Remarks by Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Rwanda
H.E. Gao Wenqi
Remarks from EPD Chairperson
Dr. Ivan TWAGIRASHEMA
Guest of honor
Official Opening by Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure
Armand ZINGIRO
Soft launch of energy access explorer
WRI Global
Group photo, Coffee Break and Exhibition & Networking
EPD Event Management Department
Presentation
Energy Compact
Presenter
Claver GAKWAVU (Managing Director of EUCL)
Panel Discussion
From Commitment to Impact: Delivering Mission 300 Through National Energy Compacts and Strategic Partnerships
Focusing on Public-private collaboration, regulatory reforms, and financing.
Panelists
Claver GAKWAVU (Managing Director of EUCL)
Ms. Laurencia K. Njagi (World Bank Senior Energy Specialist)
Francine Munyaneza(Founder and CEO of Munyax Eco)
Florien Gumyusenge (General Manager of Energy, Water, Sanitation, and Nuclear and Radiation Protection at RURA.)
Moderator:
Liliane Uwanziga Mupende
Adaptation and Green Cities LeadRwanda Country Program at GGGI
Presentation
Investment opportunities and Energy Transition Challenges
Presenter:
Abdoulaye KAYA (African Executive and Energy sector expert)
Panel Discussion
South-South (Africa-China) Collaboration
Panelists
YANG Lixian (Deputy Director of Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection center)
Cynthia Angweya-Muhati (Clean Energy Professional at KEREA)
Serge Wilson MUHIZI (EPD Chief Executive Officer)
Patrict Mwanzia (Researcher at Strathmore Energy Research Centre)
Ms. Lu Fengzhen (Director General and Principal of Forever TVET Institute)
Noh Tesfaye (RE Professional and Taskforce Coordinator at the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association)
Moderator:
Anderson Ngowa
Finance Associate at WRI Africa's Energy Program
Exhibition tour
Networking at the Exhibition
EPD Event Management Department
Networking Lunch
Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow delegates, exhibitors, and industry leaders.
EPD Event Management Department
Panel Discussion
Institutional Clean Cooking Solutions
Panelists
Jean Damascene NSENGIYUMVA(Director General of School Health and wellness at the Ministry of Education)
Rebeca Solis del Campo(Energy Advisor at World Food Program Rwanda)
Dr. Brigitte Nyirambangutse (Technical Lead for Africa at GGGI)
Richard Mori(Co-founder and CEO of MeshPower)
Martin Asiimwe(Policy Minitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Energy Department at Ministry of Infrastructure)
Moderator:
Ehudi SHINGIRO
Head of clean cooking sub-sector
Power For Food Partnership (P4FP) - Renewable Energy and Regenerative Agriculture-Driven Transformation Towards Resilient Food Systems, Rooted in Equity and Inclusion (15:00 – 17:00)
Welcoming Remarks by RCCDN Coordinator
Faustin Vuningoma
Key note Remarks by SNV Country Director Rwanda
:
Eleanor Hartzell
Implementing Partners Panel Discussion
Panel discussion by P4FP Implementing Partners highlighting their mandates, ongoing interventions, key achievements, lessons learned, and contributions to advancing the RA–PURE Nexus.
Panelists
Faustin Vuningoma (RCCDN Coordinator)
Emmanuel Ndagijimana (EPD Director of Operations)
Josiane Nyiramugisha (PDN Program Manager)
Prof. Alfred R. Bizoza (Founder President of The High Lands Centre of Leadership for Development(L4D))
Moderator:
Andrew Gashayija (Country Team Lead - Kilimo Trust Rwanda)
Presentation of Policy and Budget Analysis Findings
Eugene Rwibasira
High-Level Policy Panel Discussion
Interactive dialogue among representatives from government, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society organizations, academia, and development partners on policy reforms, budget allocation, financing mechanisms, and public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities to scale the RA–PURE Nexus.
Panelists
Alice Mukamugema (Director General of Agriculture Value Chain Management and Trade at MINAGRI)
Fred Manzi Mukombozi (Director General Budget Management & Reporting at Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINICOFIN))
Jean Bosco Mugiraneza (Director General for Energy. Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure(MININFRA))
JEAN PIERRE NIZEYIMANA (Green Economy Specialist in the Environment and Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Environment (MoE))
Moderator:
Faustin Vuningoma
RCCDN Coordinator
Way Forward and Closing
key recommendations, agreement on priority actions, institutional commitments, and next steps for integrating RA and PURE into policies, strategies, and budgets, followed by closing remarks.
Prof. Alfred R. Bizoza
Founder President of The High Lands Centre of Leadership for Development(L4D)
Wrap-up of the Day
Key takeaways of the day
Andrew Mbangukira
(Head of Hydro-Power Subsector)
Business networking and Matchmaking (B2B,B2C,B2G)
An interactive session for networking, business connections, and showcasing innovative energy solutions.
MC:
Liliane Uwanziga Mupende
(Adaptation and Green Cities Lead-Rwanda Country Program at GGGI)
Business Networking Dinner & Award
Ceremony by Invitation only
Business matchmaking dinner
MCs:
- Emmanuel Ndagijimana
Venue:
Four Points by sheraton Kigali
MC of the day
Liliane Uwanziga Mupende
Adaptation and Green Cities Lead-Rwanda Country Program at GGGI
Time Keeper of the day
Emmanuel Ndagijimana
EPD Director of Operations
Day 2 (September 9th, 2026)
Time
Program
Responsible Party
Registration
Participant check-in and networking
EPD Event Management Department
Panel Discussion
Last Mile Connectivity: Rhetoric to Reality
Panelists
Dr.Ivan Gasangwa ( Forestry Research Division Manager of Rwanda Forestry Authority/RFA)
Mr. Bernardin Bavuge (National Focal Point for Article 6.4 mechanisms at REMA)
Anitha UMUTONIWASE(EcoGreen CEO)
Jitendra Sinha(LuxDev International Chief Technical Advisor and Program Head - SFERE Project)
Prof Telesphore KaberaAn expert in environmental engineering at University of Rwanda)
Moderator:
Dr. Brigitte Nyirambangutse
(Technical Lead for Africa at GGGI)
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Networking
EPD Event Management Department
Panel Discussion
Building Renewable Energy Ecosystems: The Role of Associations, Innovation and International Collaboration
Panelists
Chikuku Katebe(Executive Director of ZARENA)
Charles DAKALIRA(Executive Director of REIAMA)
Serge Wilson Muhizi(Chief Executive Officer of EPD)
Jakub Vrba(Senior Manager, Strategy and Partnerships at Energy Saving Trust)
Shaun McLaughlin(Director of Business Development and Partnerships at The Challenges Group)
Aime Safari Kayinamura(Chief of Party of Trócaire Rwanda)
Moderator:
Damien Frame
Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at University of Strathclyde
Panel Discussion
Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Just Transition
Panelists
Neerajha Krishna Kumar(Country manager of Laterite Ethiopia)
Jean de Dieu Ndacyayisenga(Programme Analyst at UN Women)
Silas Ngayaboshya(Director General for Gender Promotion and Women's Empowerment at MIGEPROF)
Ms. Shruti Aggarwal(Managing Director of Shema Power Lake Ltd)
Martine Munezero(Challenges Rwanda)
Moderator:
Allen MUNGANYINKA
Networking Lunch
EPD Event Management Department
Panel Discussion
Power Storage Systems and Energy Solutions for AI and Data Centers
Panelists
Alain Harelimana(Managing Director of Solektra Ltd)
Dr. Sunday Stephen Akpoyibo(President Solar Energy Society of Nigeria.)
Dr.Ivan Twagirashema(Founder and Executive Chairman of Explova Consult)
Methode Maniraguha(Founder and CEO of a Californiaheadquartered Abundio Energy Inc)
Alex Ntale(CEO of Rwanda ICT Chamber)
Innocent Asiimwe Mudenge(RISA Chief Strategy and Operations Officer)
Moderator:
Ivan Asiimwe
Founder & CEO of EnerBot
Parallel Sessions (14:30 – 17:00)
Conference Room
Panel Discussion
E-Mobility: Policy, Infrastructure, and Technology (E-Waste Management)
Panelists
Mr. Amit Chawla (Managing Director of Spiro Rwanda)
Olivier MBERA(Managing Director of Enviroserve Rwanda)
Roopak Gorajia (Akagera Motors Sales and Marketing Director)
Donald Kabanda(Chief Executive Officer of REM)
Eng Alfred ByiringiroChief Techinical Advisor for Transport at the Ministry of infrastructure
Moderator:
Pamella BIGIRIMANA
Technology Provider Presentations:
Presenters
Davis & Shirtliff
Africa 360
Panel Discussion
Understanding Energy Demand and Unlocking Private Sector Solutions for Sustainable Growth
Panelists
Sosthene MUBERA Kolmena Group Ltd(Founder & CEO Kolmena Group)
Evode Imena(Representative from Rwanda Mining Association)
Christa Ishimwe(Ministry of Health Representative)
RAB/SPIU
Rwanda Manufacturing Association
Rwanda Tourism Chamber
Moderator:
James Ngugi
Managing Director of Davis & Shirtliff Rwanda
Side Event Room
Presentation
The development of the Energy Efficiency (EE) Strategy.
Presenter
Diane Umukunzi Uyambaje(Green Buildings Senior Assistant at GGGI Rwanda)
Presentation
The experiences in energy planning and low-carbon development of Beijing
as a capital city and The role Beijing can play in the space of ChinaAfrica
(Rwanda) collaboration on renewable energy.
Presenter
MEI Zandong (Deputy Division Chief of Publicity and Training Department of Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection center)
Panel Discussion
The Role of Research, Innovation, and Data-Driven Energy Planning in Transition
Panelists
Dr. Catherine Honeyman(Rwanda Country Director of Laterite)
Dr. Ghafi Kondi Akara (Resident Researcher in Climate Sciences at AIMS)
Mr. Pascal Nyiringango (Lead coordinator University Maker Space (UnIPod))
Douglas Ronoh (GIS Associate, in the WRI Energy program)
Mr. Janvier Kabananiye (Director of R&D at EUCL)
Moderator:
Damien Frame
(Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at University of Strathclyde)
Wrap-up of the Day
Key takeaways of the day
James Ngugi
Managing Director of Davis & Shirtliff Rwanda
Business networking and Matchmaking (B2B, B2C, B2G) Sessions
Interactive session
EPD Event Management Department
MC of the day
Sandrine KAMARIZA
Time Keeper of the day
Emmanuel Ndagijimana
Site visits (September 10th, 2026)
High-level dialogue with the member of the Senate Rwanda
(September 10th, 2026)
