Rwanda is seeking to increase the use of solar power, methane gas and other energy sources as falling water levels continue to reduce hydropower generation during the dry season.
The issue was raised Thursday in Parliament, where senators questioned the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) over recurring power shortages and whether the country has enough electricity to support its industrialisation plans.
Sen. Fulgence Nsengiyumva, chairperson of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee, said hydropower generation had dropped to between 200 and 235 megawatts during the dry season because of declining water levels.
“We tell people, ‘Build industries, come and we will give you electricity,’ and then electricity generation falls by half. Won’t we be misleading them?” Nsengiyumva said.
He urged REG to make greater use of other resources, including solar energy, peat and methane gas from Lake Kivu, to reduce the impact of falling water levels on electricity supply.
Claver Gakwavu, chief executive officer of EUCL, REG’s electricity distribution subsidiary, said climate change and drought were among the factors contributing to declining water levels.
He said studies had also found that Rwanda’s rivers are relatively small and cannot support large-scale, reliable hydropower generation like rivers in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
“Our rivers are small. They are not rivers that can generate large amounts of electricity like those in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda,” Gakwavu said.
The Rusizi River has the greatest potential for hydropower generation in Rwanda, but Gakwavu said regional challenges have slowed efforts to develop projects jointly involving countries along the river.
REG is also exploring greater use of solar power, although Gakwavu said large solar projects require substantial land. He said producing one megawatt of solar power requires equipment covering about one hectare.
Methane gas from Lake Kivu is expected to provide another source of electricity.
About 88.3% of Rwanda’s population currently has access to electricity, while the government aims for universal access by the end of NST2. Electricity generation capacity stands at 472 megawatts and is expected to reach 615 megawatts during NST2.
REG said the Nikereyelu energy project is expected to start generating electricity in early 2030. Other projects include the 50-megawatt Ruvumu hydropower project in Nyagatare and a Nyabarongo project expected to include 165 megawatts of solar power.
