ISA, Government of Rwanda commit to promote affordable solar energy as universal right

Elias Hakizimana Aug 31, 2023Aug 31, 2023 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) in partnership with the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) have pledged to continue collaboration in promoting affordable solar energy to the citizens of Rwanda as a universal right to enjoy.

The message was delivered to local media representatives on August 31, 2023, during a press conference that coincided with The International Solar Alliance’s 5^th Regional Committee Meeting for the Africa Region that is taking place in Kigali from 31st August to 1st September 2023, gathering various invited entrepreneurs from the private sector with much focus on solar Applications, such as mini-grids, solar pumps and other productive use applications.

The meeting welcomes discussions around the subjects of improving energy access and security, promoting solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future, mobilizing finance and building capacity and deploying solar projects.

“Around 600 million of Africans don’t have access to electricity while this is a universal right, together our 116 member countries with 44 countries, we will work together to guarantee this access to solar electricity for everyone because solar energy is the future of energy in Africa,” Ajay Mathur, Director General of The International Solar Alliance (ISA) told journalists.

On the side of the Government of Rwanda, Patricie Uwase, the state minister of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) said that Rwanda will continue to improve solar energy access for its citizens by encouraging more investors in the private sector to embrace the move.

“To date, we have only one big investor, Rwamagana Solar Power Station that produces 8.5 MegaWatt, we will continue to work on such improvements, and in partnership with ISA, we are sure to become active and we pledge to continue to be at the forefront of solar energy use in Africa.” Uwase noted.

Patricie Uwase, the state minister of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) (in yellow dressing) with ISA team and other Ministers from 44 countries in Africa during a tour visit to solar energy exhibitors in Kigali Marriot Hotel.

The ISA has 116 member countries with 44 countries from the African continent.

The International Solar Alliance’s 5^th Regional Committee Meeting for the Africa Region is an opportunity for concerned actors to discuss the progress and achievements and plan for the way forward to ensure effective access to solar energy for Africans.

About ISA

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies as a means for bringing energy access, ensuring energy security, and driving energy transition in its member countries.

The ISA strives to develop and deploy cost-effective and transformational energy solutions powered by the sun to help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories, with particular focus on delivering impact in countries categorized as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

***The International Solar Alliance’s 5^th Regional Committee Meeting for the Africa Region posing for a group photo.***

Being a global platform, ISA’s partnerships with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organizations, civil society and other international institutions are key to delivering the change it seeks to see in the world going ahead.

The ISA is guided by its ‘Towards 1000’ strategy which aims to mobilize USD 1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030, while delivering energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions and resulting in installation of 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com