The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved €173.84mn (US$201mn) in additional funding in support of electrification efforts in Rwanda
AfDB said in a statement that the goal of its Rwanda Energy Sector Result-Based Financing (RBF II) programme is to modernise the country’s electricity network, expand access to clean energy and strengthen institutional capacity.
In addition, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will also provide a further €86.92mn (US$101mn), bringing the total programme cost to €260.76mn (US$302mn).
RBF II is anchored on Rwanda’s Energy Sector Strategic Plan 2024–2029, which aims to improve the quality of life of residents, drive economic growth and reduce poverty through targeted energy sector investments, the AfDB noted.
Specifically, it added, the new programme is focused on delivering results in three areas: modernising and extending the electricity network and systems; increasing access to on-grid and off-grid electricity and clean cooking technologies; and strengthening technical and institutional capacity.
It will connect 200,000 households and 850 productive use customers to the national grid, add 50,000 new electricity connections through off-grid solutions, provide clean cooking devices to 100,000 households and 310 public institutions, and install street lighting on 200 km of roads in secondary cities across Rwanda.
AfDB added that the RBF II programme forms part of the bank’s High-5 priority areas of ‘Light up and Power Africa’ and ‘Improve the Quality of Life of the People of Africa’.
Additionally, it will contribute to delivering on the Mission 300 Initiative of the African Development Bank and the World Bank to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, it noted.
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Funding boost for Rwanda's electricity sector (Image source: AfDB)
