The construction of Rwanda’s Nyabarongo II hydropower plant is making commendable and steady progress with 50 percent completed. More progress is expected to be seen before the end of the year, according to officials from the Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL). The 43.5 megawatts (MW) multipurpose dam on Nyabarongo River is expected to be of monumental significance. Firstly, the dam is not only designed to generate electricity, but also support support irrigation projects. Once complete, the dam will support over 200,000 hectares of farmland by providing water.
Furthermore, it will facilitate in easing supply of water and reducing flooding in downstream areas. The project was initiated following a February 2020 framework agreement on its construction. The agreement was between the governments of Rwanda and China through China’s Exim Bank. The bank is providing a $214 million concessional loan through which the project is being financed. Nyabarongo II is being constructed between Kamonyi, Gakenke, and Rulindo districts. These are regions in the Northern and Southern provinces. The dam will stand 59 meters high and stretch 363 meters in length, forming a reservoir with a capacity of 803 million cubic meters.
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The Scope of Implementation on Rwanda’s Nyabarongo II Hydropower Plant
The scope of implementation on the Nyabarongo II hydropower plant is one that is shaping up to be quite fulfilling and promising. These are some of the insights drawn from EDCL Managing Director, Felix Gakuba’s speech. He spoke during the recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session in parliament as he noted significant infrastructure components are under development. “We are monitoring progress daily. We have completed nearly 50 percent of the works and expect much more progress by the end of the year,” he said. Specifically, he noted that the powerhouse structure has already reached its first level, with dam’s foundation complete.
Focus now shifts to upper parts of the dam, which are expected to take another four or five months to build. The completion of this phase will pave way for more levels to be added after structural reinforcement. Gakuba also said that construction of the transmission line has begun, with contractors already on-site. “Our staff travelled to China to inspect the equipment before shipment,” he added. Chinese company Sinohydro is responsible for the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract. Furthermore, it is also responsible for installing the 110kV transmission line.
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