The African Development Bank has approved a $870,000 grant to promote off-grid electricity generation in Tanzania.   The grant, announced yesterday, was approved under the Sustainable Energy for Africa facility, which is funded by the governments of Denmark, the UK, the US and Italy.   The money will go towards funding private sector clean energy projects, with a view to improving access to electricity in rural areas of the East.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Rwanda can now produce enough power to service all those who need it in Kigali, the Chief Executive of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, has said.   Mugiraneza, who was addressing journalists in Kigali, yesterday, said besides being able to provide electricity to everyone who needs it, REG had embarked on different projects that will also purge general load shedding issues.   In Kigali, REG is, among others,.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

The move proves nation's green growth strategy implementation   President Dr. Mulatu Teshome said the Reppie Waste to Energy Facility is a tangible manifestation of country's move in building eco-friendly growth.   The president made the remark yesterday while visiting the facility under-construction at a cost of 95 million USD.   When sees completion, Reppie would be Africa's major waste-to-energy facility and expected to.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Some 25 years back when the ruling party took power, the country was in desperate situation and the aftermath of the war left the nation's fate unpredictable. The economy almost plummeted to zero level. Most infrastructures were incapacitated and out of use and the quest for peace and stability seemed nightmarish. Getting things back in shape or giving them a kiss of life was a daunting task for the new government. Hence, taking stabilizing.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 5th January 2017

Reliable supply and affordable electricity is the key in the establishment and revival of industries in the country. Since it came to power, the Fifth Phase Government has been encouraging both local and foreign investors to set up industries in the country.   Last week, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced the increase of electricity tariff by an average of 8.5 per cent.   It is quite clear that.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 4th January 2017

Sometime back when I was in The Netherlands, I once searched high and low to get an English newspaper and asked some Dutch people why it's difficult to chance upon one. I never got anywhere.   The response was "English newspapers are over-taxed so as to discourage them in favour of newspapers published in Dutch language". The reason is to promote locally-made products in order to maintain the balance of trade and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

The development of electric power is an area in which Ethiopia has registered significant growth over the course of the last two decades. Particularly, the nation could generate huge electric resource from hydro power scheme alone.   As the effort to generate electric power had begun in 1897 with a generator capacity to the national palace, currently Ethiopia could build mega hydro-power projects which have the capacity to generate 6,000.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Dar es Salaam — The government yesterday revoked new electricity tariffs, only a day after they were announced by the regulator-- Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura).   Energy and Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo took the unprecedented action in a letter ordering Ewura to shelve the planned increase in the cost of power supply.   The letter dated December 31 and addressed to Ewura director general.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

The Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL) has unveiled a new drive that seeks to increase access to electricity as well as boost efficiency and improve revenue collection.   The performance improvement programme is part of efforts geared at transforming the utility firm into a "highly efficient and customer-centric" organisation, according to Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) chief executive. He is.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th December 2016

The Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, has asked prisons officials to review their electrical installations as a precaution against fire incidents.   The minister was speaking, yesterday, after handing over an assortment of materials worth about Rwf4.5 million to inmates whose personal effects were burnt in Sunday's fire at Nyarugenge Prison.   Mukantabana noted that some prisons are old.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

In another otherwise difficult year filled with political turmoil, Ethiopia has scored one huge win by inaugurating the Gilgile Gibe III Hydroelectric Dam over the Omo River which almost doubles the country's power generation output.   The Omo River Basin, located in the southwestern part of the country, is one of 11 basins. The Omo River valley is grown into full force from the steams and brooks of the mountains of Amhara. The Oromia.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

Over 1trn/- has been allocated for implementation of the Rural Energy Agency (REA)'s phase III projects, which are expected to electrify all villages in the country.   According to Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, 543.3bn/- out of the 1trn/- budget, will be sourced internally with the remaining amount coming from donors.   Professor Muhongo, speaking to Mara residents during his tour of the region to.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016