Rwanda: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Line 218:
Rwanda's electricity supply was, until the early 2000s, generated almost entirely from [[hydroelectric]] sources; power stations on Lakes [[Lake Burera|Burera]] and [[Lake Ruhondo|Ruhondo]] provided 90% of the country's electricity.{{sfn|World Resources Report|2011|p=3}} A combination of below average rainfall and human activity, including the draining of the [[Rugezi wetlands]] for cultivation and grazing, caused the two lakes' water levels to fall from 1990 onwards; by 2004 levels were reduced by 50%, leading to a sharp drop in output from the power stations.{{sfn|World Resources Report|2011|p=5}} This, coupled with increased demand as the economy grew, precipitated a shortfall in 2004 and widespread [[loadshedding]].{{sfn|World Resources Report|2011|p=5}} As an emergency measure, the government installed [[diesel generator]]s north of Kigali; by 2006 these were providing 56% of the country's electricity, but were very costly.{{sfn|World Resources Report|2011|p=5}} The government enacted a number of measures to alleviate this problem, including rehabilitating the Rugezi wetlands, which supply water to Burera and Ruhondo and investing in a scheme to extract methane gas from Lake Kivu, expected in its first phase to increase the country's power generation by 40%.{{sfn|AfDB|2011}} Only 18% of the population had access to electricity in 2012, though this had risen from 10.8% in 2009.{{sfn|World Bank (XIII)}} The government's Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy for 2013–18 aims to increase access to electricity to 70% of households by 2017.{{sfn|Baringanire|Malik|Banerjee|2014|p=1}}
[[File:Rwanda electricity production.svg|thumb|Rwanda electricity production by source|upright=1.3]]
The government has increased investment in the [[Transport in Rwanda|transport infrastructure of Rwanda]] since the 1994 genocide, with aid from the United States, [[European Union]], Japan, and others. The transport system consists primarily of the road network, with paved roads between Kigali and most other major cities and towns in the country.{{sfn|AfDB|OECD Development Centre|2006|p=439}} Rwanda is linked by road to other countries in the East African Community, namely Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and [[Kenya]], as well as to the eastern Congolese cities of [[Goma]] and [[Bukavu]]; the country's most important trade route is the road to the port of [[Mombasa]] via [[Kampala]] and [[Nairobi]], which is known as the [[Northern Corridor]].{{sfn|Tancott|2014}} The principal form of public transport in the country is the [[minibus]], accounting for more than half of all passenger carrying capacity.{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=34}} Some minibuses, particularly in Kigali,{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=67}} operate an unscheduled service, under a [[share taxi|shared taxi]] system,{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=32}} while others run to a schedule, offering express routes between the major cities. There are a smaller number of large buses,{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=34}} which operate a scheduled service around the country. The principal private hire vehicle is the [[motorcycle taxi]]; in 2013 there were 9,609 registered motorcycle taxis in Rwanda, compared with just 579 [[taxicab]]s.{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=34}} [[Coach (vehicle)|Coach]] services are available to various destinations in neighbouring countries. The country has an [[Kigali International Airport|international airport]] at Kigali that serves several international destinations, the busiest routes being those to [[JKIA|Nairobi]] and [[Entebbe International Airport|Entebbe]];{{sfn|Centre For Aviation|2014}} there is one domestic route, between Kigali and [[Kamembe Airport]] near [[Cyangugu]].{{sfn|Tumwebaze|2015}} In 2017, construction began on the [[Bugesera International Airport]], to the south of Kigali, which will become the country's largest when it opens, complementing the existing Kigali airport.{{sfn|MININFRA|2017}} The national carrier is [[RwandAir]], and the country is served by seven foreign airlines.{{sfn|Centre For Aviation|2014}} {{As of|2015}} the country has no railways, but there is a project underway, in conjunction with Burundi and Tanzania, to extend the Tanzanian [[Central Line (Tanzania)|Central Line]] into Rwanda; the three countries have invited expressions of interest from private firms to form a [[public private partnership]] for the scheme.{{sfn|Senelwa|2015}} There is no public water transport between the port cities on Lake Kivu, although a limited private service exists and the government has initiated a programme to develop a full service. In 2023 Rwanda was seen as an unsafe country. {{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=43}} The [[Ministry of Infrastructure (Rwanda)|Ministry of Infrastructure]] is also investigating the feasibility of linking Rwanda to [[Lake Victoria]] via shipping on the [[Akagera River]].{{sfn|MININFRA|2013|p=43}}
 
== Demographics ==