05
Dec

45 technicians and administrative staff from Rwanda Energy Group, University of Rwanda, IPRC Kigali, IPRC Tumba, Byumba University of Technology and Art,  Energicotel Ltd, Prime Energy, Hobuka Ltd and Rwanda Mountain Tea attended a 3 weeks training course on small hydro technology.

This training was organized in Rwanda with technical and financial assistance of the Government of People’s Republic of China through the Hangzhou Regional Centre for Small Hydropower (HRC). 

This training course is an outcome of cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed between REG/EDCL and HRC in July 2015. Apart from promoting the development of small hydropower and other renewable energies through trainings, the agreement also reflects cooperation in research and development, consultancy, as well as project planning and design. 

While giving his speech during the opening ceremony, Mr. Donath Harerimana, the Director of Transmission and Generation at REG/EDCL expressed his sincere gratitude to Chinese Government and HRC for the contribution and help in capacity building of small hydropower and rural electrification.

“We appreciate the contribution and support accorded to us by the Chinese government in providing capacity building to our technicians and we hope that they will apply the acquired knowledge in their day to day activities in the sector” Donath said  

“We have so far successfully implemented 4 batches of same training course, and this is a high time to start valuing the cooperation for some other areas to benefit both parties” he added hoping that similar training courses will continue to be held, so that more local technicians will benefit from it.

Mr. Wang Jiaxin, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of The Chinese Embassy to Rwanda said that power is essential in everyday life of Rwandans. 

“Power is very important for Rwanda's transformation and the improvement of the economy and also the betterment of the livelihoods of Rwandans” he said. 

During the training sessions participants covered a wide range of topics which have equipped them with required knowledge and skills to develop the small hydropower energy, and hence allowing to overcome the shortage of clean energy supply in remote areas of Rwanda where the national grid has not yet reached.