Rwanda faces substantial problems with electricity. The national power provider Electrogaz is not able to satisfy the 5% of the population currently connected to the electricity network, forcing imports of about 13% of its electricity from neighbouring countries. However, the country has substantial hydroelectric resources, as well as natural gas deposits under Lake Kivu, which could make it self-sufficient in electricity or, even, a net exporter. The development of new thermal power plants to run on natural gas, or new dam construction to increase hydroelectric production requires investment.
Investment opportunities
Investors have the following opportunities in the energy sector:
• Exploitation of methane gas energy in Lake Kivu which has the capacity to support a 700 MW power plant: Opportunities in this area include generation of electricity and production of liquid gas, engine fuel and cooking gas.
• Solar energy (insulation of nearly 5.15KWh/m²/day): Opportunities here include electricity generation, installation of solar equipment for households and an assembly plant of solar panels.
• Hydro power: Opportunities exist for public private partnership in macro-hydro power plants eg. Rusumo falls with 20 MW and Nyabarongo river with a capacity of 27.5 MW for which feasibility studies are available. Another opportunity is the development of micro-hydro power stations. Over 300 sites have been identified.
• Bio energy: Investment opportunities are in the production of energy from peat (reserve of 6 billion cubic meters) and waste; and increasing the efficiency of wood energy.
• Production of energy equipment
• Aeolian energy, geothermal energy and fossil fuel (prospection and study results to be available by 2010). This will
generate more electricity.
• Electricity distribution.
For more information contact the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA)
Contact: Christine Akuzwe, Investor Mobilizer officer.
Email: info@rwandainvest.com
