According to Rwanda’s National Transformation and Development Strategy (NST1), achieving full electricity coverage by 2024 is an important goal of its medium- and long-term development plan, and a key pending promise to be fulfilled for President Kagame’s re-election in the 24-year election. Over the years, the country has made significant progress in expanding access to electricity, with the proportion of electrified households rising from 18% in 2012 to 61% in 2022. At this stage, the country is focusing on this goal by vigorously strengthening its electricity infrastructure through a combination of measures.
First, to promote the construction of the Lake Kivu methane power project, the first phase of which has been completed, and the second phase is expected to be completed in August this year, with a total installed capacity of 56 megawatts after the completion of the project. Second, accelerate the construction of the Rusumo hydropower station developed in cooperation with Burundi and Tanzania, with a total installed capacity of 80 megawatts after the completion of the project, of which Rusumo will benefit from 26.6 megawatts; at present, the project is in the testing stage, and is expected to be put into operation in August this year. Third, promote the project of importing electricity from Uganda. Recently, Lu has completed the construction of transmission lines connecting with Uganda and other neighboring countries, and has already purchased more than 40 megawatts of electricity from Uganda. Promoting the construction of the second phase of the Nabarongo Hydropower Station, which will have a total installed capacity of 43.5 megawatts and is expected to be completed in 2026. (v) Promoting the construction of the Rusizi Hydropower Plant Phase III project, which is a cooperative development project among Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a total target power generation capacity of 206 megawatts upon completion, and each country will benefit from 68 megawatts of electricity.
