Rwanda Methane Gas Power Plant, which is biggest methane gas power plant in the country has been connected to the national grid, making a major step further towards acquiring cheaper, diversified sources of energy, and also managing to tap the gas reserve which is under Lake Kivu. The connection of the methane plant was as a result of the decision of the country to close all the power plants that ran on diesel, which were deemed to be very expensive of all the available current energy sources.
The Chief Executive of SPLK, Alex Kabuto, stated that the contract they had entered with the national government of provided Rwanda Methane Gas Power Plant to provide 56 Megawatts not unless the Rwanda Energy Group requests them to provide more supply, then they could increase the supply to 68 Megawatts.
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Capacity of the Rwanda Methane Gas Power Plant Plant
Once completed, the pant will generate a total of 68 Megawatts gross, injecting an approximate of 50 Megawatts to the national grid. As a result of the delay that was brought about by the delay of the Covid-19 pandemic and the technical issues that were being experienced and needed to be get fixed before the plant was connected to the national grid. The Rwanda Methane Gas Power Plant which costed a total of $400 million to be constructed, is run by Shema Power Lake Kivu (SPLK) and currently provides 37.5 megawatts. It has been anticipated that by the second month of the year 2024 the plant which is situated in Rubavu District will increase its energy generation capacity to 56 Megawatts.
Methane gas is extracted from a depth of 300-400 meters underwater and cleaned in the tanks of the plant that separate it from the other gases and water before it undergoes processing and connected the Rubavu Substation. Currently there are a total of three projects that have been set up to extract methane from Lake Kivu that will be utilized to generate power. The projects are: Shema Power Lake Kivu, Kivuwatt Phase 1 with a capacity of 26 Megawatts and Kibuye Power 1 with a capacity of 3 Megawatts.
