Works on the country’s biggest hydro-electric power plant along River Nyabarongo are making good progress, according to the Minister of State for Energy, Eng. Albert Butare.

The project that was commissioned in 2008, is expected to cost $ 99.7 million, part of which was availed by India’s Exim Bank.

When completed, the plant will generate 27.5 Mega Watts of electricity which will be a major boost to the national power grid.

"Detailed designs of works on the ground have been done, and works on the access roads are almost complete as well,” Butare said Wednesday.

"Equipment from India has arrived – and a bigger part of the expropriation has been done,” Butare said.

He said that more than Rwf 600 million has been paid and the Ministry of Finance is about to release the final part of the funding.

An estimated Rwf 4.2 billion was the cost for relocating people from areas in Ngororero, Karongi and Muhanga districts.

A consortium of two Indian companies – Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Angelique International Ltd, are working on the project under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement.

The project is expected to be completed in 2013.

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