Saturday, 30 September 2023

Ngara/Tanzania, The 15^th council of Ministers in charge of Energy from Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania convened to assess the progress of construction works of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectricity project, which is at 99.7%.

The first unit of 27MW was successfully tested, whereas the remaining two machines has to be tested before end of October 2023 with expectation to officially inaugurate the facility in December 2023 once all units are on national grids of the respective member states.

The 15^th Council of Ministers was chaired by the minister of energy in the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Doto Biteko who serves also as the Deputy Prime Minister. The council calls for combined efforts and team works sprit to fast-track the project completion.

The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP) is connecting the plant’s facilities upstream in Tanzania and downstream of the switchyard on Rwanda side and will contribute to having lower energy costs in shareholder countries.

Hon. Minister of infrastructure Dr. Jimmy Gasore in midst between Ministers in charge of Energy from Burundi and Tanzania, during the site visit.

The project is owned by Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPCL), a joint development of Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

Rusumo project is pioneering as it gives back to riparian communities surrounding Rusumo project’s construction area by implementing the Local Area Development Program (LADP), a benefit-sharing program designed to enhance regional economic and social development in the Rusumo area as an extended program related to the construction of Rusumo project.

On Rwanda side, the LADP program is implemented in Kirehe and Ngoma district whereby various infrastructure projects have been constructed, among include: Kigina health center, rehabilitation of 30 km of feeder roads in Kigarama and Musaza, Cyasarabwayi-Nganda road in Kirehe district.

Whereas, in Ngoma district the construction of 33 km of Gituku-Murama water supply and 28,7 km of mixed water pipeline supplying 10, 500 populations of Gatonde-Gahima cells.

The overall project progress of the Power Plant construction is at 99.7%with 99.8% progress for hydro mechanical and civil works and 99.5% for the electromechanical.