Justification
for a plan proposal for energy development in Rwanda
This inventory of fixtures shows that Rwanda has an immense energy potential (hydraulic
energy, methane of Lake Kivu, solar energy...). Energy is a significant aspect in the
reconstruction and development of the country.
This sector, which is in full restructuration, has to rapidly set up a strong energy
strategy so as to increase Rwanda's energy independence while answering the country's
demand and while respecting the environment.
The justification of a programme for the development of the energy sector is obvious.
The following aspects can be mentioned, without any special order:
- The inadequacy of the urban and rural energy supply by comparison with the scale of the
needs and demand;
- The inadequacy of the energy supply and consumption (0.1 tonnes of oil
equivalent/inhabitant/year), a lot below the industrialization threshold (0.6 tonnes of
oil equivalent/inhabitant/year);
- Wood consumption, linked with the size of the population, its extraordinary density in
this region and its increase, which leads to a worrying deforestation;
- The necessity to support the economic development by supplying a minimum of energy in
the expectation of the arrival of large power energy;
- The necessity to support the economic development of rural zones, which represent 95 %
of the population, lack modern energy and are undisputable actors in the economic
development in Rwanda;
- The intensification of the support of development programmes for health, education and
economic activity by a minimum energy supply;
- The coherence with the goals, the national energy strategy and particularly that of
the Ministry of Energy, Water and Natural Resources MINERENA:
- Reducing energy dependence in Rwanda;
- Reducing the energy deficit in Rwanda.
- The coherence with the national skills and abilities, in particular those of the
Ministry of Energy, Water and Natural Resources MINERENA:
- Undisputable skills and initiatives of civil servants of the MINERENA's Energy
Department;
- Presence on the field of engineers trained by the MINERENA.
- The coherence with the national environmental strategy and in particular with the
following goals:
- Reducing CO² production;
- Environmental protection and biodiversity.
- The coherence with the development policy in Rwanda:
- Restart, support of the economic development and promotion of socio-economic
activities in Rwanda and more particularly in rural zones;
- Pacification and social reorganization of rural zones (grouping of the population);
- Support of programmes for health, education and economic development;
- Fight against poverty.
- The coherence with the goals of the GEF (Global Environment Facility) and in
particular the following:
- Reducing CO² production;
- Environmental protection and biodiversity;
- With analyses, prescriptions and recommendations of experts, notably of the World
Bank;
- With studies and initiatives currently privatised in the energy sector, led by Rwandan
authorities and supported by the World Bank;
- With energy assessment and investigations of the BRGM...
Photo J-C Scholle
 Could
a hydroelectric micro plant be set up here? |
Such a project implies:
- The rehabilitation of the energy sector;
- An energy saving policy;
- A programme for the implementation of hydroelectric micro power plants;
- A programme for the implementation of geothermal power plants;
- A programme for the implementation of solar thermal plants;
- A programme for the implementation of photovoltaic solar plants;
- Technical assistance for the Ministry of Energy (training, internships, exchange of
technicians, etc.).
And possibly, the other aspects to work on could be the implementation of:
- A programme for papyrus briquette reprocessing;
- A programme for peat reprocessing;
- A programme for waste reprocessing;
- A programme for Lake Kivu's methane gas reprocessing.
Last updated on 12.03.2009
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