Rusumo electricity in prospect
Rusumo Project Ministerial Council visited the 80MW Power Plant in construction on August 20, 2022 to see the progress of construction works and held a meeting after the site visit. The Council of Ministers (CoM) Meeting discussed strategies to speed up Project completion which is at a good prospect.
The CoM Meeting was chaired by the Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure, Hon Dr Eng. Ernest NSABIMANA and constituted by Burundi Minister for Hydraulics, Energy and Mines, Hon. Eng. Ibrahim UWIZEYE and Tanzania Minister of Energy Hon. January Y. MAKAMBA. The CoM Meeting was also attended by RPCL Board of Directors and Heads of Utilities: TANESCO, REGIDESO and REG EUCL among others.
The main construction works of the Power Plant are being executed near Rusumo border between Tanzania and Rwanda.
The CoM Members visited the power intake, the powerhouse and the switchyard which is in Rusumo area on Rwanda side. COM Members were escorted by RPCL Board Members and the Management and Staff of NELSAP and RPCL visited the power intake, the powerhouse and the switchyard which is in Rusumo area on Rwanda side.
Rusumo Project Manager, Eng. Alloyce Oduor presented to the CoM Members and the visiting delegations the switchyard sites situated in Rusumo Rwanda side which is at 95% progress.
Thereafter, Rusumo Project Manager took the ministerial delegation to the powerhouse, where the three units penstocks are completely installed including backfilling and installation of cable trenches. He explained that the rails installation activities at transformer yard will immediately follow to be completed this month and installation of transformers and connection to substation take-off electrical equipment will start this current month and end in November 2022.
“The overall Project implementation status is at 95% with hydro mechanical (civil) works at 97% and electromechanical works at 92.5%” he stated.
The project is giving much attention to environmental social health safety and the quality of the all work remains very high and world class; which could be considered as a good practice to be shared with other future hydroelectric projects through different Project stakeholders and partners.
After site visit, the Ministerial delegations proceeded to holding the 14th CoM Meeting at the RPCL powerhouse residential campsite located in Tanzania at 5km from the Rusumo Border. The 14th CoM Meeting was chaired by Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure, who appreciated the progress made by the Project and requested to speed up the remaining works to tap on to completion on time. The RPCL Board of Directors and Heads of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania Utilities amongst others participated in the meeting.
After the CoM Meeting, Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Eng. Dr Ernest NSABIMANA handed over chairmanship to Tanzania Energy Minister, Hon. January MAKAMBA in the presence of Burundi Energy Minister, Hon. Eng. Ibrahim UWIZEYE. As it has been the culture, RPCL CoM Chairmanship changes alphabetically every year. Thereafter, a press conference was held by CoM Members with media from respective countries.
The outgoing CoM Chairman appreciated the progress of the Project implementation:
“I appreciate the progress recorded so far made, we are encouraging implementers to increase of the pace and complete in due time”, he said.
“We support implementer to ensure to start using Rusumo electricity in the first quarter of 2023”.
The incoming CoM Chairman mentioned that, during his tenure, he will facilitate the quick implementation of remaining works to take Project to completion.
Burundi CoM Member recognized the tremendous milestone.
“Shareholders need Rusumo electricity for the development of their citizen”, he mentioned.
The associated three Transmission Lines that will directly connect from the Power Plant to the national grids of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania are also being completed and are being executed by REGIDESO, REG-EUCL and TANESCO respectively. Currently, RPCL and the three Utilities are holding discussions in order to sign the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) before the end of October 2022.
Tanzania transmission lines will distribute power from Rusumo to Nyakanazi substation. The Overhead Transmission Lines (OHTL) progress is at 81% and will be completed by October 2022. In Rwanda, the Rusumo-Bugesera-Shango’s overall progress for the OHTL is at 82% and is expected to complete in October 2022 In Burundi, the Rusumo - Muyinga – Gitega substations are at 99%, their end-to-end testing is ongoing and the OHTL is at 98.5%, expecting to complete at the end of August 2022.
The implementation of the Local Area Development Program continues to illustrate benefits to riparian communities whereby the Project is of a well-executed Hydroelectric Project.
Rusumo Project is giving back to riparian communities surrounding Rusumo Project’s construction area by implementing the Local Area Development Program (LADP), a benefit-sharing program worth 15 Million US Dollars designed to enhance regional economic and social development in the Rusumo area as an extended program related to the construction of Rusumo Project commandeered by respective districts and communes.
LADP is implemented in Busoni Commune (Kirundo Province, Burundi) and Giteranyi Commune (Muyinga Province, Burundi), Ngara District (Kagera region, Tanzania) and Kirehe and Ngoma Districts (Eastern Province, Rwanda).
These LADP projects are improving livelihood of the riparian communities in the health, education, access to clean water sectors in neighboring villages.