The long-delayed plan to construct the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project plant on the Ruzizi River between the two countries of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has now received a major boost amid US-backed peace talks between the two countries.
Anzana Electric Group will partner up with Rwanda-registered company Ruzizi III Holding Power Co. Ltd. to construct the 206-megawatt Ruzizi III project. This was revealed by the companies said in a joint statement that was issued on Tuesday.
Also read: Rwanda signs deal with AfDB for construction of Ruzizi III hydropower plant
Ruzizi III Hydropower Project Factsheet
Location: Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu to Lake Tanganyika. The river forms a natural border between Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda.
Participating countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Rwanda.
Capacity: 206 MW
Cost: approximately $760 million.
Project details:
- Construction of a dam which will be 51 meters high. The dam will have a compact reservoir that will cover approximately 46 hectares.
- A 3.8 km long headrace tunnel will be built
- Also, there will be a power station that will have three generating units.
- A 7 km long double circuit 220 kV transmission line to a substation at Kamanyola will be established.
- Lastly, the project entails ancillary infrastructure: permanent and access roads (9.6 km in DRC and 19.5 km in Rwanda), quarries, borrow pit sites, and spoil disposal areas.
Also read: Tender for construction of Ruzizi III hydropower plant advertised
Ruzizi III will be joining two other plants that are found on the river that divides Congo’s South Kivu province from Rwanda’s Rusizi District. Additionally, this hydropower project could nearly double power capacity for nearby Burundi, increase Rwanda’s by 30% and provide baseload power for eastern Congo, the companies revealed.
Also read: Burundi, DRC and Rwanda sign Ruzizi 3 Power project agreement
Challenges Facing the Project
Furthermore, Ruzizi hydropower project has been in planning for more than ten years and has been delayed as a result of the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.
Both Rwanda and Congo are expected to sign a peace accord in Washington on Friday. This will be in a deal overseen by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A large portion of eastern Congo which includes parts of South Kivu remains under the control of the M23 rebel group.
Also read: Construction of Ruzizi III Hydropower plant gets AfDB funding
