New REG CEO Pledges Faster Progress Toward Universal Electricity Access in Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda – The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Eng. Maximilien Byilingiro, has pledged to accelerate efforts to connect more households to electricity and improve service reliability as Rwanda pursues its ambitious goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2029.
Byilingiro made the commitment on Friday during an official handover ceremony held at REG headquarters, where he formally took over leadership from Eng. Armand Zingiro, who was recently appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Col. Claudien Bizimungu, the Chairperson of REG’s Board of Directors, Dr. Didacienne Mukanyirigira, and other senior officials from the institution.
In his remarks, Eng. Byilingiro expressed gratitude to President Paul Kagame for the confidence placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the energy sector’s contribution to Rwanda’s development agenda under the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).
“We will work tirelessly to ensure that the country’s goals and commitments to provide electricity access to all citizens are achieved. That is the direction in which we will focus our efforts,” he said.
“We understand that citizens are eager to have reliable and uninterrupted electricity services, and we will do everything possible to increase the number of households connected to the power grid.”
The new CEO emphasized that access to reliable electricity remains a critical driver of economic growth, industrial development, improved public services, and better living standards for citizens across the country.
He also called for stronger collaboration among REG staff and stakeholders to improve performance, increase productivity, and support Rwanda’s broader socio-economic transformation.
Outgoing REG Chief Executive Officer and current Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eng. Armand Zingiro, urged management and employees to continue building on the progress already achieved while remaining focused on expanding access to electricity nationwide.
“We still have a significant task ahead to achieve the goals set under the government’s NST2 development agenda,” he said.
“A considerable number of Rwandans are yet to gain access to electricity, and therefore all of us must work together effectively to ensure that this target is achieved.”
The Chairperson of REG’s Board of Directors, Dr. Didacienne Mukanyirigira, commended the institution for its strong performance in managing public resources, noting that REG has maintained a clean audit record. She encouraged the new leadership to preserve and strengthen this achievement while delivering on the institution’s strategic priorities.
According to REG, more than 2.9 million households across Rwanda are currently connected to electricity through both on-grid and off-grid solutions. The institution is now focused on reaching the remaining households and ensuring that all citizens have access to reliable and uninterrupted electricity services by 2029.
The commitment comes as Rwanda continues investing heavily in energy infrastructure to support economic transformation, improve service delivery, and enhance the quality of life for communities across the country.
With universal electricity access now firmly embedded within NST2 targets, REG’s new leadership faces the challenge of not only expanding connections but also ensuring that power remains affordable, reliable, and accessible to every Rwandan household.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
