To avert the current water shortage in Kigali city, the electricity and water utility, Electrogaz , plans to increase water supply to the city.

Electrogaz has a new plant located on the outskirts of Kigali with a capacity to produce 40,000 cubic metres per month but currently produces only 10,000 cubic metres of water.

"We have started pumping the underground water into Electrogaz grid and by the beginning of September, the plant will be able to produce at its full capacity,” said Dr. Albert Butare, State Minister for Energy.

According to Butare, the facility has already started supplying water to Gisozi, Batsinda, Gaculiro, Nyarutarama, and Kagugu.

Water is extracted from 30 wells around Nyabarongo River, pumped to the treating plant and later sent to the storage facilities located in Gisozi.

Currently Kigali faces a water deficit of 30,000 cubic metres and according to Butare, in the past fifteen months, there has been an increment of water consumption measured at about 3,000 cubic metres of water a day.

According to information available to The New Times, the underground water extraction plant cost about Rwf15 billion.

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