Gigawatt Global dedicates 8.5 MW solar plant in Rwanda

photo VOA News

Gigawatt Global has completed the construction and interconnection of a $23.7 million solar energy plant at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda.

The project was sustained by Africa Clean Energy Finance (ACEF) program for which US based Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) provided initial support.

Almost 12 months after the signing of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the 8.5 Megawatt plant is going to be inaugurated on 5th February.

Rwanda’s minister of infrastructure, James Musoni, and the chief of staff of the OPIC, John Morton, will be present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The project is expected to provide 15,000 homes in the region with clean power.

photo VOA News
photo VOA News

The Rwanda field, constructed in the shape of the African continent brought together an international consortium of financing partners.

The land is owned by the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, whose mission is to care for Rwanda’s most vulnerable children orphaned before and after the Rwandan genocide.

They have leased the land to build the solar facility, the fees from which will go for a portion of the village’s charitable expenses.

Debt was provided by FMO (Netherlands Development Finance Company) and the EAIF (Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund).

Besides, mezzanine debt was provided by Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries).

ALSO READ   Sub-Saharan Africa to set record growth in renewable energy sector

Scatec Solar served as the EPC contractor as well as the O&M provider.

In addition, Scatec Solar also arranged equity funds jointly with Norfund and KLP Norfund Investments.

Moreover, grants were received from OPIC’s ACEF grant and from the EEP (Energy and Environment Partnership) Program, a partnership of the British, Norwegian and Austrian governments.

Gigawatt Global’s 8.5 MW solar field in Rwanda is the first utility-scale project to reach financial close and come online under the Africa Clean Energy Finance (ACEF) program, which is now an integral part of the Power Africa Initiative.

Gigawatt Global is one of almost 90 private sector partners involved in the U.S. Government’s Power Africa Initiative, which is designed to increase access to electricity throughout all of sub-Saharan Africa.

Sabeena Wahid

[email protected]