A Study on Factors Affecting Success of Independent Power Producers? Projects in Rwanda, A Case of Mudasomwa Pico Hydropower Plant

The study aimed at assessing the factors affecting success of independent power producers projects in Rwanda. Its specific objectives were to analyze the effect of planning factors on success of Mudasomwa Pico Hydropower Plant, to analyze the effect of stakeholder involvement on success of Mudasomwa Pico Hydropower Plant and to assess the effect of operational risk management on success of Mudasomwa Pico Hydropower Plant. The study adopted a descriptive survey. The target population of the study equaled to 54 respondents. Since the target population of this study was quite small in number, the researcher preferred to adopt a census whereby all 54 targeted respondents were considered as the sample size. The primary data for this study were collected using questionnaires. Questionnaires were designed by the researcher and distributed to the respondents by the researcher herself. Before analyzing data, errors were first identified and eliminated as soon as possible in order to enable the researcher to cross-examine the relationship between the questions and the corresponding responses so as to ensure accuracy, consistency, and uniformity. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data after being processed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The study findings showed that 57.4 % of all respondents agreed that during the planning process of Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power Plant, the cost of activities have been well estimated, 63 % of all respondents agreed that that during the planning process of Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power Plant activities have been well scheduled, 68.5 % of all respondents agreed that during the planning process of Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power Plant all needed resources have been identified, 79.6 % of all respondents agreed that in Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power Plant stakeholders are involved in project implementation, 16.7 % of all respondents strongly agreed that in Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power Plant stakeholders are involved in project implementation. The findings further revealed that 66.7 % of all respondents agreed that in Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power all stakeholders are involved in decision making, 20.4 % of all respondents strongly agreed that in Mudasomwa Pico Hydro Power all stakeholders are involved in decision making. The researcher concluded a strong and significant relationship between planning factors and success of independent power producers project in Rwanda, the researcher also concluded a significant relationship between stakeholder involvement factors and success of independent power producers projects, lastly the researcher concluded a strong and significant relation between risk management factors and success of independent producers project in Rwanda. The study recommends that the managers and funders of independent power producers project should put much emphasis in planning so as to ensure that project costs are well estimated and the project scope is well defined, the researcher recommends the project management team to involve the stakeholders in needs identification so as to ensure that they are implementing the projects that are relevant to stakeholders especially beneficiaries, the researcher further recommends that all stakeholders should be involved in the project implementation so as to keep the project on track, on time, on budget and on scope and the project implementation team should always adopt serious measures to manage risks so that they become aware of all sources of risks that may hinder the project success.