Clean Energy for All: Transforming Lives in Rwanda Through Solar Lighting and Improved Cooking Stoves

The Energy Private Developers (EPD), in partnership with the BK Foundation, on December 13, 2024, took a significant step towards Rwanda’s sustainable development goals by providing solar lighting solutions and improved cooking stoves (ICS) to 141 households in Nyanza and Ruhango Districts.

Under the “Brightening Lives” project, this initiative aims to address the dual challenges of clean energy access and reliance on biomass for cooking, contributing to Rwanda’s ambitious target of reducing biomass dependence from 83% to 42% by 2024.

With rural households still facing limited access to electricity and modern cooking methods, this program promises to enhance safety, improve health, and support environmental conservation while advancing Rwanda’s journey toward universal electricity access and a greener future.

During his speech, Serge Wilson MUHIZI, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Energy Private Developers (EPD), mentioned that the activity was part of a program focusing on Rwanda Energy Week in September, aiming to discuss how to deliver electricity to Rwandans and other countries quickly and cheaply, ensuring access to electricity for all.

He added, “It was supposed to be followed by an activity that we consider as giving back to the community, so it was one of the plans that we had that we have to light more than 100 houses so that in our conference we feel that there is something good that we were able to do.”

He revealed that they are implementing social responsibility activities in various programs and sought partners to collaborate on these activities. They found the BK Foundation to be a suitable partner as they share the same mission of supporting citizens in the program, which aims to provide electricity access to all Rwandans.

He noted that despite supporting 141 households today, they are still working on addressing other residents, who require lighting and improved cooking stoves.

Ingrid KARANGWAYIRE, the Executive Secretary at BK Foundation, stated that their environmental conservation project aims to reach untapped areas, partnering with the government. They have assisted 141 households in two months and hope to increase their number in the next year’s budget to reach more households.

“The support aims to provide light in homes, support children’s education, and protect the environment,” she said.

Marion NIRERE, Energy Coordinator at the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), emphasized the significance of energy infrastructure and its positive impact on the country and its sectors contributing to its development.

“We ended NST1 without reaching the goal of 100% because we are at 77%, but we want that at least in 2029, all Rwandans will be having electricity because we know that where it has reached, there are visible changes,” she stated.

She emphasized that achieving 100% of their goals requires collaboration with the private sector and others who view it as a complete social responsibility, and encourages others to continue working with the government to achieve this goal.

Felicien NKUNDAKOZERA, one of the residents who received these materials, expressed gratitude to EPD for providing solar lighting solutions and improved cooking stoves, which will significantly improve their daily life, as they previously struggled with phone charging.

He said, “I used to run kilometers to charge my phone, now I enjoy charging it at home and using an improved cooking stove to reduce wood usage. And I used to buy wood for 1500 Frw and burn it for three days only; now we have been given improved cooking stoves, and now we will burn them for about two weeks.”

His colleague, Anne Marie TWAGIRIMANA, a resident of the Muyira sector in Nyanza district, emphasized the benefits of solar lighting, stating that it will provide light, aid school children in revising lessons, and ensure safety. She cited the previous issue of darkness which was resolved with the installation of lights, and the absence of wood in cooking, indicating that these issues will be resolved.

She said, “The smoke was harming us, and sometimes we got respiratory diseases, and we were also harming the environment.”

Patrick KAJYAMBERE, Vice Mayor in Nyanza district in charge of Economic Development, reported that in Nyanza, electricity rates have reached 77%, with 42% for conventional and 35% for solar energy. The grant received has added 2% to the region’s electricity rates due to cooperation on both sides.

He urged individuals to maintain the resources they have received, as they have been trained in monitoring them, ensuring that future support does not return to those who have already received it but instead goes to those who have not been reached.