The development deal for the Kayonza Solar Power Plant was made final by the Government of Rwanda. For its construction, approximately $30 million (about 20 billion Rwandan francs) will be spent. The project’s overall construction as well as management will be under a consortium, Goldsol II.
The three companies involved in the Kayonza Solar Power Plant include TMM Renewables based in South Africa, alongside 3E Power Solar. The third company involved is based in Malta, Gesto Energy Africa. The GoldSol consortium has an impressive track record of investments across the continent. In fact, their investment portfolio exceeds $800 million.
Reported On Jun 17, 2014
Goldsol ll to construct 10MW solar power plant in Rwanda
A 10MW solar plant worth US$ 20m will be in Rwanda. This will help the country achieve its energy target of 563 MW from 120 MW by the year 2017.
The power plant will be in Kayonza Eastern Province by Goldsol ll and will be completed in a period of 21 months. According to Miguel Barrato representative of Goldsol ll, the project will be one of the largest solar plants in East Africa.
Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, the Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water said that the government has a target of increasing access to electricity to its citizenry by 2020 and that is why it struck a deal with Goldsol ll to carry out the task.
Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, the CEO of Rwanda Development Board said the country is keen on the conservation of the environment and therefore was using an expansive approach that embraces a range of clean energy solutions. On completion, the project will serve over 38,800 households. Rwanda is also developing its geothermal and gas energy sources found in the Lake Kivu area.
Access To Electricity
Although the electricity access level in Rwanda is still low in comparison to Africa’s and Sub-Saharan Africa’s average access rates of 40% and 31% respectively, the country’s electricity access rate has more than tripled from 5% in 2005 to the current access rate of 18%.
With the Electricity Access Rollout Programme (EARP) under implementation since 2009, with support from several partners such as the World Bank, JICA, and NORDIC FUND among others, alongside an increase in generation, access could potentially increase to 70% by 2017.
The planned generation mix by 2017 comprises mainly peat (255 MW), methane (75 MW), hydro (140 MW), and solar (18.5 MW).
The annual average per capita consumption of electricity in the developing world is 1,155 kWh. The figures are in comparison to 10,198 kWh in high-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa averages 457 kWh. However, the figure falls to 124 kWh if South Africa is not a part of the list. In Rwanda the per capita energy consumption is only 41 kWh.
