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Kigali, Apr 02, 2006 -- The New Times/All Africa Global Media
The Regional Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency for Sub-Saharan Africa, Ned Cabot, recently expressed optimism at the developments registered by Rwanda and pledged to support the country's outstanding power shortage problem. "We realize there is an energy crisis in Rwanda. We have consultants who will be coming for a variety of concerns. We want to organize for the exploitation of Methane Gas in Lake Kivu, source for the development of more hydro-power generation sites as well as extension of the oil products pipeline from Kampala to Kigali," Cabot said. Over the last two years, Rwanda has experienced a power shortage stemming from the lack of other viable energy sources after the energy demand in the country could not cope with the production capacity. There have been plans for a shift to other sources of energy like methane and biogas. Just recently, Dane Associates was contracted to begin the exploitation of Methane Gas from Lake Kivu, a venture considered by many as likely to reduce the power shortages in the country whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture but is shifting to industrialization. When asked whether the Americans were likely to take over the extraction of methane gas from Dane Associates, Cabot said: "We have to thank them for the excellent job they (Dane) have done. Ours will be able to provide research and a study on what comes next after what they will have done." The Minister of Commerce, Protais Mitali, who also attended the meeting, said that among other duties, USAID is also charged with the promotion of trade in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mitali stressed that the meeting aimed at finding ways how the agency can assist Rwanda in expanding development projects. "This country has undertaken so many development projects; we talked about how they can, through their vast experience, help us solve the problem of energy, the oil pipeline from Kampala to Kigali and the Karisimbi Project," Mitali observed. The Minister also disclosed that the meeting deliberated on ways of improving sugar production in the country. He too, was non-committal on whether the Americans were likely to take over from Dane Associates in the exploration and extraction of Methane gas in Lake Kivu. "They will work together. Our task is to find ways of effectively solving the power problem in the country," he said. Cabot was accompanied by Michael Arietti, the US ambassador to Rwanda. Also present at the meeting were finance minister James Musoni and Brig.Gen Jean Bosco Kazura. Meanwhile, President Paul Kagame on the same day bade farewell to Moustapha Soumare, the UN Resident Co-ordinator who left the country Saturday, March 25, after serving for seven months. Soumare noted that he was privileged to have met with President Kagame to bid him farewell after serving in Rwanda. He hailed the steps the country had taken in attaining development. "There is a clear vision for this country. The leaders are focused and I have no doubt development will become a success. My role has been clear, it is through a clear understanding of both government and donors that this country's dream will be achieved," he said. Soumare said that the UNICEF chief will run the UN Office in the meantime, while his assistant at UNDP will carry on with the roles of the UN development agency. News Provided By |
