Rwanda: 10 Major Projects Shaping Rwanda's Energy Future

What the report says

Rwanda is moving ahead with a broad energy expansion plan that the Rwanda Energy Group says could more than double national electricity generation capacity by 2034. Reporting published by The New Times and distributed by AllAfrica says the government is pursuing a $3.2 billion program to raise installed capacity from 467.14 megawatts to 1,066 megawatts, while also aiming to expand electricity access from 85% to 100%.

The article highlights 10 ongoing or planned projects expected to support that target. They include the 43.5 MW Nyabarongo II hydropower project, now reported at 75% completion and due for commissioning by December 2027, and the 206 MW Rusizi III regional hydropower project involving Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with construction expected to start in early 2027. Other major pieces of the mix include more than 100 MW from Lake Kivu methane gas, a 200 MW floating solar project at Nyabarongo Dam, and a 30 MW solar plant planned for Kirehe District.

The government is also advancing longer-term and smaller-scale additions, including a 110 MW nuclear power program over 10 years, a 5.1 MW solar plant for BioNTech’s vaccine facility in Kigali, and expansion work at existing hydropower sites such as Rukarara VI and Ntaruka. The plan also includes a 15 MW waste-to-energy project in Musanze and a solar pipeline of more than 900 MW across utility, rooftop and off-grid uses.

The projects matter because Rwanda is trying to meet rising demand with a mix of hydropower, solar, methane gas, waste-to-power and nuclear options. The article presented them as part of a wider push toward cleaner and more reliable electricity supply.