THE ongoing construction of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP) has been highlighted as crucial project in which East African Community (EAC) member states can facilitate access to affordable renewable energy to run industrial projects.
An Environment Specialist from Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) made the statement during the Pre 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (PRE COP 27) to journalists from different countries in Africa.
“Climate change affects us all, it has no borders. The decision by the three East African countries including Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda to join forces in executing projects such as RRFP is an example of support to environment sensitive economic development,” he said.
Mr Bavuge added that Rusumo project must be emulated by other African nations in policy formulation while supporting one another on green energy projects which concurrently addresses the impacts of climate change which threatens power production.
The project which is expected to be completed early next year will generate 80MW. It will also help to reduce the use of fossil fuel in power generation among the three countries, lower power tariffs and thus reduce cutting down trees for firewood.
The three countries joint venture project in EAC financed by the World Bank at a cost of 340 million US dollars will enable each one of them to pump into the national grid an addition of 26 megawatts.
Transmission lines that will evacuate power to the national grid in the three countries are financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to the tune of 121 million US dollars.
EAC member states are already hit by prolonged drought, flooding and mudslides which are the impact of global warming fuelled by climatic changes caused by human factors.
PRE COP 27 Media conference is preparing African journalists on how they make Afrocentric of the coming COP 27 conference which will take place in Egypt in November this year.
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFP) 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 River Kagera.
