The Government of Rwanda has ratified a US$27.95 million (approximately Rwf40 billion) loan agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development to finance the construction and equipping of a Centre of Excellence in Aviation Skills (CEAS).
The ratification, published in the Official Gazette on August 28 following a law passed on August 25, gives immediate effect to the agreement that was originally signed in Vienna on June 17.
The centre will be a multidisciplinary institution designed to meet international aviation standards by training pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and cabin crew in compliance with both the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Officials said the project is meant to address the fast-growing demand for highly skilled professionals in Rwanda’s aviation sector, which is expanding in line with the country’s broader investment in air transport, including the new Bugesera International Airport and RwandAir’s fleet expansion.
The OPEC loan will cover 51 percent of the total project cost. Expenditure will focus largely on infrastructure and specialised training equipment valued at US$21.7 million, with additional funds allocated to accreditation and certification support (US$2.6 million) and project management, monitoring, and evaluation (US$1.4 million).
A sub-component of the agreement includes the provision of advanced training equipment: one flight simulator, an upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) aircraft, two helicopters, cabin crew training mock-ups, and specialised maintenance tools.
The package also includes IT equipment, classroom and lab furniture, and simulation materials.
In line with Rwanda’s green development commitments, the centre’s infrastructure will integrate eco-friendly solutions such as hybrid solar panels, solar water heating, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and green cooking systems.
The project will also deliver academic buildings, dormitories, and recreational facilities, ensuring a sustainable learning environment.
Under the loan terms, Rwanda will benefit from a five-year grace period and will repay the loan at an interest rate of 1.75 percent per annum, with the project scheduled for completion by November 30, 2029.
The OPEC Fund loan follows a US$23.6 million financing agreement approved in November 2024 between Rwanda and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the same centre.
Combined, these resources are expected to fast-track Rwanda’s ambition of building a skilled aviation workforce to support its growing air transport industry.
As of December 2024, RwandAir employed 207 pilots, of whom 59 were Rwandan and 13 were women.
Officials say the new centre will significantly increase the number of locally trained professionals, reducing dependence on expatriate expertise while creating opportunities for Rwandan youth in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.