New Rwanda utility faces up to challenge of expanding generation

Rwanda plans to raise generation capacity to 563MW from 115MW by 2017, and to increase the electricity access rate to 70% from 18% within the next three years. The Ministry of Infrastructure says this ambitious level of expansion is essential if Rwanda is to reach its target of 11.5% annual growth over the next five years.The government restructured the Electricity, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) with effect from 31 July, dividing it into the Rwanda Energy Group and the Water and Sanitation Corporation. The reform aims to improve service delivery and give the utility a corporate status, which a EWSA statement said would “allow quick decisions but demand effective performance from the companies”.