The government of Burundi has expressed interest in joining the joint DRC-Rwanda exploitation of methane gas on Lake Kivu.

The project was announced soon after Presidents Paul Kagame and Joseph Kabila agreed on the joint venture at a recent summit.

Burundi’s interest in joining the mega project was expressed by their Minister of Finance Clothilde Nizigama who called it ‘amazing and profitable saying that it will come with many benefits that include power, fuel and fertilizers.

"We would like to join the joint methane gas project, it should be regionalised like SINELAC, the power project that brings together our three countries,” Nizigama said after visiting the Rubavu based methane gas plant.

The three countries; Rwanda, Burundi and DRC are bound together by CEPGL, the great lakes economic bloc.

However, State Minister for Energy, Dr Albert Butare, said that Burundi will only benefit from the expected 400MW power project after the satisfaction of domestic power deficit, but will not be a partner in the project.

"The joint project is by two countries, DRC and Rwanda. Others like Uganda and Burundi will just benefit from power supply, and if Burundi is joining the project as a partner, is something that can only be decided by the Heads of State,” Butare said.

He added that the regional bloc, CEPGL, has Rusizi One and Two power projects which are already running and shared between the three countries.

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