The Rwandan government has a vision – 2020 Rwanda – a broad policy to develop the country’s capacities across all sectors. Energy self-sufficiency is included in this mandate and there under lies a call for solar.
Solar energy has “outshined” all other forms of renewable power sources for the energy-deprived county. It is the intent of the government to provide electricity access to at least 35% to 40% of the population by the year 2020 by the passing and enforcement of legislation and acceptance of foreign assistance.
Smartly, the country is taking a systematic approach for the switch to solar energy. The initial step will be target-oriented and time bound, which the five-year Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) calls for. By 2012, more than 50% of all schools and administrative centers, and all health centers will be solar-electrified if all goes as planned.
The European Commission, the Belgian Technical Cooperation, Global Environmental Fund, and USAID, have all signed up to strongly support Rwanda in this initiative. The private sector has also stepped up to the plate, with investors from the thermal and photovoltaic sectors getting involved.
An inter-ministerial task force consisting of MINEDUC, MINISANTE, and MININFRA, will make up the group that spearheads the “Roll Out Program,” which will brainstorm to come up with cost saving options for the supply of electricity and coordinate efforts to avoid duplication of efforts and oversee rational use of solar equipment and other resources.
Stadtwerke Mainz, the power utility in Rhineland-Palantinate, in cooperation with MININFRA, will be looking to expand the Kigali Solaire solar power plant from 250-KW to a capacity of 1 MW.