Resources 

Monday, February 24, 2014 

Belgium gives $23m for Rwanda power

KIGALI, Rwanda - Belgium has stepped in to boost Rwanda’s infrastructure budget by giving $30 million including $23 million specifically for increasing electricity grid connections in rural areas.

The 22 million EUR (just over $30 million) grant agreement was signed between the two governments and is part of the EUR 160 million ($220 million) financial package for the period of 2011- 2014.

The package includes assistance to Rwanda’s health, energy and decentralization sectors.  

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning last week, about Euro 17 million ($23 million) will help improve sufficient, affordable and reliable access to on-grid electricity for both rural households and rural public institutions.

This  program  is under the Electricity Access Rollout Program (EARP) overseen by the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA). The EWSA is  Rwanda’s main power utility.

Finance minister, Amb.Claver Gateta said these projects were vital for sustaining economic development and therefore a priority for the government.

He said, “The Rwandan government aims at improving service delivery offered by public institutions to its people and therefore such funds were going to contribute to such.”

About 21.000 households from the districts of Kirehe, Kayonza and Gatsibo are expected to benefit the power project is fully implemented.

“We will construct power lines connecting to different households in these districts and therefore even the vulnerable people will be able to get access to electricity,” Edward Kasumba , the EARP Program Coordinator at EWSA said.

He said the money will help EWSA put up both medium and low voltage lines. However the vulnerable people in the selected districts will get first priority.

“Such rural residents will be requested to pay Rwf66,000  (about $95) which amount can be paid in installments with a first installment of Rwf15,000 and then the balance can be paid whenever people go to buy cash power as one way of making electricity easily accessible for the population,” he said.

Some $6.8 million will go to maintenance of infrastructure, management and supporting functions. The money will also help in creating a competent staff at EWSA.

By Agnes Bateta, Monday, February 24th, 2014