“Our goal during the Energy Forum is to demonstrate to private investors the opportunities available in the country to achieve this objective,” she said, while addressing the Rwanda Energy Forum.
She said the Government will emphasize partnerships with the private sector to meet energy needs. The State Minister noted that currently only 15% of the population has electricity. Government hopes investors will take note of the opportunities available in the energy sector, as well as the strengthened environment to attract investment in Rwanda. Among the opportunities, there is hydro power, solar and wind power, peat, methane gas and several other energy sources available.
The State Minister urged Rwandans to use gas and biogas stoves for cooking. “Developed countries conserve energy. We should begin to imitate them,”she remarked.
In terms of electricity generated from methane gas by the company ContourGlobal in Lake Kivu, the State Minister informed the Forum that the construction such facilities take a long time in general. Methane gas requires that the investor has sufficient funds to accelerate the work.
“With regard to the Company Kivuwatt in Karongi District, I visited the site. I found that many efforts have been accelerated, whether at the level of gas extraction from the lake bottom, or the procedure for its conversion into electricity. We hope that in early 2013, the first phase will be operational,” she said.
Asked about the percentage of clean energy used in Rwanda, she said that of the 100 GW that the country currently consumes, 54% of energy derived from water (hydro), therefore clean energy. In essence, Rwanda considers the use of renewable energy sources which are clean energy.
“This means that we are using between 50% to 60% clean energy. The remaining 40% are obtained from diesel (oil) which is not clean energy,” she said.
For his part, during a press briefing, the Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva, insisted that Rwanda wants to produce more electricity in the near future. “Given the number of partners at the Forum on Energy, who actually have projects elsewhere in other countries, and have wide experience, I am optimistic,” he said.
During the discussions and resolutions of the Forum, the Minister hoped they would identify joint projects to be implemented in the months and years ahead.
“The production of 1,000 MW is the program that was decreed under the current presidential term because the country needs energy. It is an imperative because there cannot be development without sufficient and affordable energy,” he said.
He added that reaching that capacity – and even beyond, is a possibility. Government believes the key is to get out of the current energy deficit and have a program consistent with Rwanda’s partners to move forward, in the last six years left, toward the goals of the vision.
The Minister for Infrastructure recalled that in the past decade, the energy source has been largely hydro power. Alternatives are being sought such peat, geothermal resources and methane gas.
“These resources require more advanced technology, capacity and funding and as well as partnerships with experts who exert wide knowledge in trade and investment. It is these aspects that the Forum on Energy should clarify – especially since studies have shown that some of our projects are feasible. In a few months, we will have partners to work with to increase our energy capacity”, commented Minister Nsengiyumva.