The Rwanda Energy Group (REG) has announced that investigations are underway into the nationwide power outage that occurred on the evening of Sunday, November 9, 2025. The outage, which affected the entire country, is believed to have originated from the regional power transmission lines that Rwanda shares with neighboring countries.

REG spokesperson Geoffrey Zawadi told KIGALIINFO that while investigations are ongoing, it is still too early to assign blame. He explained that the outage not only affected Rwanda but also neighboring countries that share interconnected power infrastructure and energy sources.

“There are power transmission lines we share with neighboring countries, and that’s where the issue originated,” Zawadi said. “Although the blackout affected the entire country, it stemmed from problems in the regional grid. A joint team of technicians from all the affected countries is currently investigating the root cause to prevent a recurrence. The matter is still under investigation.”

Rwanda currently sources its electricity from several power plants, including the Rusumo Hydropower Plant shared with Tanzania and Burundi, Methane Gas Power Plant on Lake Kivu, Peat Power Plant in Gisagara, Rusizi, Nyabarongo, Ntaruka, and Mukungwa hydropower stations, as well as solar power plants in Rwamagana and other community-based facilities.

According to Zawadi, the outage had an impact not only on Rwanda but also on other countries connected to the shared regional power grid. He emphasized that while measures are in place to minimize such occurrences, power outages remain a challenge that cannot be entirely eliminated.

He explained that the nationwide blackout occurred because all electricity generated both within and outside the country first converges at a central distribution point in Kigali (Gikondo) before being redistributed to various districts at regulated voltage levels.

“Electricity from Rusizi, for example, first passes through Kigali before reaching households,” he said. “Kigali acts as the main hub where all power from different plants is collected—just like imported goods that first go through MAGERWA warehouses.”

Zawadi added that power from generation plants arrives in Kigali at very high voltage levels, which makes it unsuitable for direct household use until it is regulated and stabilized. This process, he said, prevents potential damage to electrical systems and infrastructure.

He also addressed complaints from residents who sometimes see power lines passing over their homes while their areas remain without electricity, clarifying that this happens due to the routing and regulation process of the national grid.

The REG spokesperson further noted that localized outages are often caused by damaged infrastructure—such as broken poles, fallen trees, or strong winds—and urged the public to remain patient and avoid verbal attacks when such incidents occur.

“Whenever there’s a power outage, REG incurs the biggest loss because we stop selling electricity that we’ve already purchased,” Zawadi explained. “However, I can assure the public that several ongoing projects are aimed at strengthening the network and preventing future outages.”