06
Aug

Kigali, Rwanda | 6 August 2026 – Rwanda Energy Group (REG) participated in the two-day Australia -Africa Clean Energy Conference held at the Kigali Marriott Hotel, where policymakers, energy experts, investors, development partners, and industry leaders from Africa and Australia came together to discuss practical solutions for accelerating Africa’s clean energy transition.

The conference brought together key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy, climate finance, clean technologies, and sustainable infrastructure. It served as a platform to translate policy commitments into investment-ready projects that expand electricity access, enhance energy security, and promote inclusive economic growth across Africa.

Opening the conference, State Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eng. Armand Zingiro, emphasized that the event aligned with Rwanda’s national priorities on clean energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He noted that the conference provided an important opportunity to strengthen international partnerships, foster dialogue, and accelerate investments in clean energy solutions that will shape Africa’s sustainable future.

Similarly, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, James Opiyo Wandayi, described the conference as “a premier platform for driving investment, policy alignment, and technical innovation across our regions.”

Representing REG, Felix Gakuba, Managing Director of Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), participated in a high-level panel discussion on "From Energy Access to Energy-Powered Economic Transformation." He highlighted Rwanda's significant progress in expanding electricity access, emphasizing that the country's focus is now shifting beyond increasing connections to ensuring that electricity powers industrial growth, creates jobs, and improves livelihoods.

Speaking on regional energy integration, Gakuba stressed that East Africa's diverse energy resources present an opportunity for greater collaboration.

"East Africa possesses complementary energy resources—hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and natural gas. The opportunity lies in treating these resources as regional assets rather than national ones," he said.

He noted that unlocking this potential requires stronger regional transmission infrastructure to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, harmonized regulatory frameworks that encourage investment and efficient power markets, and innovative financing models—including blended finance and public-private partnerships—to mobilize private capital.

Gakuba added that regional power integration would strengthen energy security, reduce electricity generation costs, improve resilience to climate change, and enable countries to optimize investments by sharing infrastructure rather than duplicating it.

REG’s participation in the conference reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to advancing clean energy solutions, strengthening regional and international partnerships, and leveraging sustainable energy to support inclusive economic development and a resilient, low-carbon future.