The main partners in the energy sector are the World Bank (WB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), Belgium, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, South Korea, USA, UK, etc.
EWASA buys power on small contracts of 10 MG on renewable tariffs. Its objective is to create an enabling environment for energy production. Regarding tariffs, the price is for example US$16.6 for 50 KW. The agency maintains a universal access to electricity fund. EWSA has already identified 333 hydro sites in the country, of which 21 are under construction. EWSA or former-RECO-RWASCO or ELECTROGAZ, facilitates water and sanitation projects within the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA). EWSA was established in December 2010 to provide electricity services, water and sanitation in Rwanda, and at affordable cost.
EWSA has three responsibilities which are; the management and delivery of utility services, marketing, facilitation and investment planning. The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) protects consumer interests.
The Director General of RURA, Francis Regis Gatarayiha, briefed the Forum on Energy that RURA is an independent national institution that regulates the energy sector, communications, transportation, water and sanitation.
“RURA ensures non-discriminatory treatment in liberalized markets. It protects the interests of consumers. It ensures compliance with laws,” he said. The Director General of EWSA elaborated studies to provide water and energy. There are new resources, visible in projects to extract methane gas for example.
Personnel and capital
EWSA maintains a workforce of 2,000 employees including 971 earmarked for the electricity sector. The company has a capital of US$190 million and has an ability that provides 100MW of which 87MW are available. 38.7% of Rwanda’s electricity supply is imported. EWSA Customers number 260,000 of which 57,000 are for electricity, as 125,000 for water. Each employee provides services to 178 clients. A Canadian company, Manitoba Hydro International, maintains a regular audit of EWSA with a staff of twelve experts.
“We will recruit ten others to support us in negotiating capacity,” said Yves Muyange, the DG of EWSA, adding that his company prefers small plants. Moreover, EWSA boasts of the competitiveness of certain projects.