According to Karega, the nation is embracing solar power because it has proven to be one of the least expensive and most reliable means of electricity distribution systems for rural electrification.
“Solar energy is cheaper and economical for home use and small businesses,” he said.
The Isofoton project is being jointly funded by Rwanda and the European Union.
Speaking from the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Karega said the country intends to provide electricity to 50 percent of its population by 2017, compared with 6 percent now.
The nation is also increasing its overall energy budget to 1000 MW from 80 MW over the same period. If it accomplishes that goal – a goal on which it is spending an additional €197.1 million ($262 million) -- it will be able to connect an additional 220,000 residences and businesses to the grid, Karega said.
According to a 2009 International Energy Agency (IEA) report 1.5 billion people across the globe do not have access to electricity, and 83 percent of them live in rural areas. In Sub-Sahara Africa, only about 12 percent of the rural population have access to electricity, the report said.
While the solar deployment in Rwanda grabbed today’s headlines in the nation’s newspapers, Karega also noted that 16 mini-hydro power plants are also being installed across the country and that 36 institutions throughout the nation are currently connected through biogas.
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