Ngala 9^th October 2021- The Project’s Council of Ministers (CoM) visited the 80 MW Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric to take stock of the Power Plant construction progress, assess related issues, and come up with strategies to accelerate its completion. The overall Project implementation status is at 81.9 %, targeting commissioning and testing of 1^st power (one unit) by December 2021.

The council of ministers are the ones in charge of energy development in Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania respectively. The CoM Members are; Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Claver Gatete (CoM Chairman), Burundi Minister for Hydraulic, Energy, and Mines, Hon. Ibrahim Uwizeye, (CoM Member) and Tanzania Minister of Energy, Hon. January Yusuf Makamba (CoM Member) who was represented by his deputy Hon. Steven Byabato.

Before COM, the Board of Directors meeting was held on the 8^th October 2021 and assessed all issues constraining the entire project varying from management and technical. The board members were assigned to follow up on the construction activities so as to meet the deadline.

Minister Claver Gatete and CoM chair, urged board members to always reach out to the council of ministers for quick decisions making. The transmission line infrastructures are towards completion. Once completed, they will extend to New Bugesera Airport and Shango in Rwanda, Gitega in Burundi, and Nyakanazi in Tanzania. The project will develop renewable hydroelectric power as part of a broader program to support the sustainable management of the Kagera River Basin and promote growth and poverty reduction. It will also impact the growing Town Centers while ensuring that environmental aspects are well managed and benefits of shared power are produced.

The project upon completion will facilitate increased economic activities, private sector development, and investments in social infrastructure and services through improved access to electricity.

The project is worth US$340Million and US$128Million that have advanced to the countries as a loan from the World Bank and African Development Bank. The compensation of the affected persons by the project has been completed on both sides of Rwanda and Tanzania.

As part of bringing quick benefits to the community in the project site neighborhoods (in Ngoma and Kirehe districts), USD5million has been allocated to the people through the two District Councils to implement different community development projects (agriculture (irrigation) and livestock, construction of new health centers, & road rehabilitation) through the Local Area Development Program delivering direct benefits to the people around the expected hydropower generation plan. The livelihood restoration program for the affected people by the Rusumo project in the Kirehe District. A budget ofUSD302,862 has been approved for the activities and the first disbursement sent to Kirehe District to implement planned activities.