UN special representative on energy extols Rwanda on energy programmes

President Paul Kagame shakes hands with Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, UNSG Special Representative and Chief Executive for Sustainable Energy for all after

The UN Secretary General Special Representative and Chief Executive for Sustainable Energy for all Dr Kandeh Yumukella has commended Rwanda for integrating energy transformation as part of national development strategy.

Dr. Yumukella made the remarks shortly after paying a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro village.

Speaking to the press, The UN representative said that UN will in September hold a forum on sustainable energy for all and he said that they want to showcase Rwanda as one of the success stories of Africa where they have integrated energy transformation as part of the national development strategy.

He said that President Kagame had agreed to have Minister for Infrastructure Prof. Silas Rwakabamba go New York to present the Rwanda model and also meet financing institutions and also Bilateral and multilateral donors to present the Rwanda case.

Dr. Yumukella also thanked President Kagame and his government for accepting to host the “African launch of the decade of sustainable energy for all” that took place on the sidelines of the AfDB meetings and for the trips they organized to see the progress Rwanda is making in rural electrification, but also in expanding power generation.

“We have also discussed the issue of regional integration and integrating regional Energy markets and here our idea is to develop a group of African leaders from all the regions of Africa within the regional economic commission to be the champions of integrating power markets in Africa.

“You can’t have one power market. You have to have sub-regional power markets built around the power pools and regional economic communities,” he said.

The UN official said that that he requested President Kagame to be part of that leadership group of African leaders who will champion this cause to which he is willing because he strongly believes that the future of energy systems in Africa lies in integrating all the available energy resources.

“We also invited the President in September to the General Assembly for a side event we are doing for energy and there is a possibility of signing a programme with the European Union for Rwanda.

The European Union has already committed significant resources based on what Rwanda has done to support the power sector here.”

According to the Minister of Infrastructure Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, the plan that Rwanda and other countries have is to humanize energy. Energy should serve the people and not run machines.

“It is very important that we show that when we want to get energy, is to serve people, that is why sustainable energy is going for three objectives and one of them is to increase access.

People don’t want energy only for cooking or lighting, they also want to be productive, to have a healthy life, to have a long life. So when you show the human face of energy, it makes a difference,” explained Lwakabamaba who said that when he goes to New York, he will base on that argument to present Rwanda’s case.