This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/11/2019

Overview

About half of Rwandans currently have access to electricity.  In a bid to position Rwanda as a services hub for east and central Africa, the Rwandan government committed itself to a large number of power purchase agreements with independent power producers to increase generation capacity.  With a projected surplus of power set to exceed demand by approximately 200MW in 2024, the Rwandan Government is shifting its focus to increasing access, stimulating demand, and strengthening the transmission network.  By 2024, Rwanda plans to supply electricity to 100 percent of the population, 52 percent through the grid expansion and 48 percent through off-grid technologies.  It also targets improvements in the grid network, including reducing system losses and improving reliability, as well as connecting with neighboring countries and importing and exporting power across borders. Several U.S.-based or owned micro-hydro, off-grid solar, and mini-grid firms are active here; there are many opportunities for firms providing innovative and affordable transmission and distribution systems and equipment.

Power Africa Support:  Power Africa is a market-driven, U.S. Government-led PPP aiming to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.  It offers private sector entities tools and resources to facilitate doing business in Africa’s power sector.  In 2016, the Electrify Africa Act institutionalized Power Africa. Learn more about the full Power Africa toolbox or other opportunities offered by Power Africa.

Power Africa is supporting Rwanda’s energy sector development through wide-ranging technical assistance, in cooperation with the Government of Rwanda, international finance institutions, development agencies, and private sector partners.  Power Africa supports the utility in streamlining processes in project development to ensure achievement of power sector milestones and strengthen operational capacity of the system.  Along with other donors, Power Africa is advising the government on the design and implementation of its off-grid strategy.  It is also mobilizing off-grid finance through USAID’s Development Credit Authority, technical assistance to local financial institutions, and the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) has provided grant funding to women-owned Rwandan off-grid businesses.  Power Africa has also assisted with the development of new policies and procedures that will facilitate private-sector led IPP investments, as well as supporting planning, operation, and maintenance improvements of the generation, transmission, distribution systems.  In moving beyond traditional grid access, support for off-grid electricity access has been a significant part of Power Africa engagement.  Learn more about how Power Africa is partnering to address key challenges in Rwanda’s electricity sector and supporting private sector investment in energy at:  https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/rwanda.

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Electricity access – on and off-grid (solar home systems and mini-grids)
  • Electricity transmission and distribution
  • Regional electricity system integration and power trading
  • Power sector policies and planning
  • Institutional capacity building

Opportunities

  • Power transmission and distribution equipment and services
  • Off-grid energy solutions, including rooftop solar products
  • Technical assistance and services

Web Resources

Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure: www.mininfra.gov.rw
Rwanda Development Board: www.rdb.gov.rw
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority: www.rura.gov.rw
Rwanda Energy Group (REG): www.reg.rw
Energy Private Developers (EPD): http://www.epdrwanda.com/
 

 

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More Information

Rwanda Energy Trade Development and Promotion