RWANDA WILL DRILL FOR GEOTHERMAL

Rwanda to Drill Three Geothermal Exploration Wells Next Year
David Malingha Doya (w/Philip Sanders and Digby Lidstone), December 13, 2010 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

"Rwanda plans to drill three geothermal exploration wells [in the west of the country] next year at a cost of about $20 million…"

[Stephen Onacha, energy expert, Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure:] “When we confirm geothermal resources in the first well, we will begin developing it for electricity generation immediately…[and will not wait to drill all other exploration wells.”

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"Rwanda wants to expand its generating capacity to 1,000 megawatts in seven years from 85 megawatts, Coleta Ruhamya, state minister for energy [said]…That generating capacity will include 300 megawatts of geothermal energy…

"The government secured grants of $4.5 million from the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility and 4 million euros ($5.3 million) from the Nordic Development Fund for a renewable energy project, the Ministry of Infrastructure said…The money will form a grant and credit program for electricity consumers to buy solar systems."