Ngara, KAGERA: THE Regional Rusumo Falls Hydro-electric Project (RRFHP), jointly executed by three countries – Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, is set to be officially inaugurated in February next year.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Dr Doto Biteko confirmed this when addressing the media after a meeting of ministers from the three countries overseeing the project held in Rusumo, Ngara District, Tanzania.
“We received a proposal to inaugurate the project in December this year but due to the short time to coordinate with Heads of State, we are submitting a request for the project to be inaugurated in February next year,” said Dr Biteko.
He added that the implementation of the Rusumo project has reached 99.9 per cent of its completion and is currently undergoing final touches.
“The completion of this project will enable each country to receive 27 megawatts in its national grid… the country needs more electricity, with current demand at 1,800 megawatts, while the capacity to generate electricity has reached 3,070 megawatts,” said Dr Biteko.
Dr Biteko said the benefits gained, besides the availability of electricity, include employment, powering development projects in Ngara District and improvements in social services.
He added that the Rusumo project will be a major economic driver by linking Tanzania with Burundi and Rwanda in the electricity trade.
He said that availability of multiple sources of electricity generation will help boost the country’s economy and individual development.
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Regarding electricity consumption in the country, he said 52 per cent of power generated is used by households, while 48 per cent is used in industries.
Furthermore, he called on the community to protect the environment, a message that was also seconded by the ministers of the three countries who urged project managers to plant trees in the project area to ensure its sustainability and conservation.
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project is a hydropower project under joint development by the governments of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania through a commonly owned Rusumo Power Company (RPCL).
The joint development was entered by the three governments through a tripartite agreement signed on 16th February 2012. The project is located at Rusumo Falls at the common border of Rwanda and Tanzania on Kagera River.
The project will bring 80 MW of renewable, clean, relatively low-cost power to the national grids of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania, with each country benefitting about 27 MW.
The World Bank (WB) donated US 340 million dollars for the construction of the power plant while the African Development Bank (ADB) had donated US 128.6 million dollars for construction of transmission lines
