By Edwin Musoni
Infrastructure minister James Musoni has reiterated government's interest in exploring clean energy, particularly solar power, to achieve its development targets.
Musoni, who was yesterday unveiling a new solar photovoltaic power plant in Rwamagana District, said energy remains a salient resource for both current and future generation.
The $23.7 million utility-scale plant, the first of its kind in the region and the third in Africa after the ones in South Africa and Mauritius, was commissioned last year. It's construction was funded by a consortium of institutions.
Developed by The Netherlands-based company, Gigawatt Global, the solar plant adds some 8.5 megawatts to the national electricity grid.
"It is important to note that solar energy (on-grid and off-grid) remains a key component of our current and future generation. There is equally a great deal of investment potential in the roll-out of off-grid solar systems country-wide," Minister Musoni said.
He added that Rwanda targets a double digit growth of 11.5 per cent during the second Economic Development and Poverty Eradication Strategy (EDPRSII) period to 2018 and the availability and access to affordable and sustainable quality energy solutions will be key to the achievement of the above growth targets.
"Only with sustainable power shall we be able to promote private business, industrial growth, agricultural transformation, IT based service efficiency etc all critical to the achievement of the above targeted growth rate," he said.