The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved USD180 million in loans to improve transmission and last-mile connectivity in Rwanda
The project will include the construction of 137 km of high voltage line and six substations to strengthen the grid. In addition, over 1,000 km of medium voltage and 3,300 km of low voltage lines will be constructed to improve last-mile access. It will also include the installation or upgradation of over 1,200 distribution transformers and related infrastructure. The project will extend electricity access to rural areas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Rwanda. The financing comprises USD140 million from the AfDB’s sovereign window and USD40 million co-financing from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF). The project will connect 77,470 households to the electricity network for the first time. It will also connect 75 schools, eight health care facilities, and 65 administration buildings, as well as allow the evacuation of 125 MW of clean energy from hydropower plants. The project is a component of the USD670 million multi-donor Rwanda Universal Energy Access programme, which is being co-financed by the World Bank Group, OPEC Fund for International Development, Saudi Fund for Development, Agence française de développement (AFD), and the European Investment Bank.