“We have set our targets but we will have to stretch them in the future. Our general target is to connect all Rwandans by 2024” said recently the CEO of Rwanda Energy Group, Eng. Ron Weiss.

Access to electricity in Rwanda is one of the key targeted development boosters of the Government. The current target, dubbed 7-5-2, stipulates a 100% access to electricity in Rwanda in 7 years while this percentage will be reached in Kigali City in only 2 years and in all productive use centres (health centres, schools, handcraft centres, markets, etc.) in 5 years.

BTC is one of the main development partners supporting the Government of Rwanda to meet these targets. The support is channelled through the Electricity Access Rollout Program, EARP, a program based in EDCL, a Rwanda Energy Group subsidiary company in charge of Energy Development.

Through 2 consecutive projects, namely BE-EARP1 and BE-EARP2, BTC is intending to provide access 20,340 households in the Eastern Province. Currently, 36.5% of households in the Eastern Province have access to electricity, including 24.5% connected to the national grid and 12% using off-grid solutions. Through a Tunisian contracting company - STEG - under the BE-EARP project, 8104 households are currently being connected to electricity. Stringing works and transformers installation are preceding the last step to connect house after house.

Residents of Munyaga Sector, one of the 7 sectors to be electrified in Rwamagana District, welcomed this electrification project saying that it will enable them to start various businesses such as hairdressing, milling and welding.