The Rusumo Hydropower Venture is already delivering advantages throughout Rwanda, with impacts being felt in agriculture, aviation, housing, healthcare, water provide, roads, and regional energy commerce.
The venture, collectively developed by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, has a technology capability of 80 megawatts. Based on Theoneste Higaniro, Director of Era and Transmission at Rwanda Vitality Group (REG), it contributes 26MW on to Rwanda’s nationwide grid by way of the Bugesera Substation.
The New Instances highlights a few of the key advantages the nation has gained from the regional energy venture.
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Powering irrigation
The Rusumo Energy Plant is predicted to provide electrical energy to the Mpanga and Mahama irrigation schemes in Kirehe District, which cowl greater than 7,000 hectares throughout Mahama, Mpanga, and Nyamugali sectors.
The Mpanga irrigation scheme presently operates under capability due to insufficient electrical energy, leaving farmers weak to dry-season losses.
To deal with the problem, REG plans to construct a substation in Nyamugali Sector by the tip of 2026. The power will probably be related to the Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Energy Plant, bettering energy provide to the irrigation schemes.
Based on the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Assets Growth Board (RAB), the schemes presently rely upon electrical energy from the Rwinkwavu substation, which is inadequate.
Supporting Bugesera airport
The Ministry of Infrastructure has introduced that the brand new Bugesera Worldwide Airport will probably be related to the Rusumo Hydroelectric Energy Plant to make sure a steady provide of renewable vitality.
The federal government is developing the Rusumo–Bugesera–Shango 220kV transmission line and related substations to evacuate energy from the plant. Based on REG, the 119-kilometre line will join Rusumo to Bugesera and Shango substations, serving to energy the airport and surrounding areas.
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Opening alternatives for energy commerce
The venture can also be anticipated to facilitate electrical energy commerce between Rwanda and Tanzania.
As soon as transmission networks are interconnected, electrical energy can circulate in both path, with every nation paying an agreed value per kilowatt-hour.
“The interconnected community can carry greater than 100MW, however the carrying capability of the road doesn’t essentially replicate the precise buying and selling capability,” Higaniro mentioned.
He famous that precise commerce volumes will rely upon accessible electrical energy and agreements between the 2 nations.
“For instance, if each events comply with commerce 50MW or extra, it may be performed. Buying and selling is predicted to start quickly, as each side are prepared, though some discussions and negotiations are nonetheless ongoing,” he added.
Housing and social infrastructure
Greater than 80 households displaced by the development of the Rusumo Hydropower Plant in Kirehe District have been relocated to a newly constructed $4 million mannequin village.
The settlement, positioned close to the Rwanda–Tanzania border, is related to electrical energy and clear water and consists of roads, drainage techniques, cow sheds, an early childhood growth centre, a faculty, a well being publish, and native administrative workplaces.
Higher roads and water entry
By means of the Native Space Growth Programme (LADP), a benefit-sharing initiative for communities surrounding the venture, Rwanda obtained $5 million for growth initiatives in Kirehe and Ngoma districts.
In Kirehe District, authorities rehabilitated 30 kilometres of the Cyagasenyi–Gasarabwayi–Nganda feeder street. One other 28.7 kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated in Ngoma District.
The programme additionally improved entry to wash water. In Ngoma District, authorities constructed the 33-kilometre Gituku–Murama water provide system and a 28.7-kilometre combined water pipeline serving greater than 10,500 residents in Gatonde and Gahima cells.
A separate 53-kilometre pipeline was inbuilt Rukira Village, connecting Gasoko and Murama and supplying clear water to greater than 23,000 households.
Bringing healthcare nearer
The venture supported the development and electrification of Kigina Well being Centre in Kirehe District, in addition to well being centres in Kazo and Karembo sectors of Ngoma District.
Residents say the services have considerably improved entry to healthcare.
Micheline Batamuriza, 45, recalled the difficulties residents confronted earlier than the services had been constructed.
“Since childhood, we needed to journey 18 kilometres to well being services in different sectors. It was very troublesome, particularly for sick individuals and pregnant girls. For 40 years, Kazo Sector had no well being centre providing maternal providers,” she mentioned.
“Many ladies selected to offer delivery at house as a result of travelling to Mutenderi or Kibungo well being centres was too pricey. Throughout hospitalisation, households additionally struggled with the lengthy 18-kilometre journey to go to and look after sufferers,” she added.
Trendy markets for merchants
The Rusumo venture additionally funded the development of markets in Sake and Kazo sectors of Ngoma District.
Léandre Uwineza, a dealer in Sake Sector, mentioned the brand new infrastructure has diminished the danger of losses attributable to flooding.
“On April 23, 2024, heavy rainfall brought on flooding that inundated my store and destroyed items value Rwf200,000. I’m assured such losses is not going to occur once more as a result of the foundation explanation for the issue has now been completely addressed,” he mentioned.
Jeanne Uwanyirigira, one other dealer, mentioned the market has improved working circumstances for girls who beforehand relied on road merchandising.
“Earlier than the market was constructed, my colleagues and I bought our items on the streets as a result of we had nowhere else to function. It was a troublesome life. Since road merchandising is unlawful, we had been all the time working from legislation enforcement officers. When caught, our items could be confiscated and we’d be fined for buying and selling illegally,” she mentioned.
