PM tours Nyabarongo power project

Shortage :People should not see such projects as a burdenMUHANGA - Prime Minister, Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, has said that the construction of Nyabarongo hydro-electric power plant must meet its deadline.The construction, which started in 2009, is expected to be completed by April 2014.It is estimated that upon completion, the plant, which is set to generate 28 Megawatts, will cost US$108 million.On Tuesday, Habumuremyi, together with several government officials, visited the site as part of efforts to ensure activities are completed on time.“We must make sure we meet the deadline. The Government and the whole population need electricity,” he said.“Each party involved in this project must take its responsibilities seriously,” he insisted.He also noted that the contractors and the local government must ensure that local residents benefit from the project.“I hope that the day we will commission this station, people around will be happily enjoying electricity in their houses,” the Premier said.“ People should not see such projects as a burden but rather as a solution to their problems,” he noted, emphasising that issues of uncompensated property must be resolved soon.The Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Local government to tackle the issue of environmental protection along the power plant site.Emma Isumbingabo, the State Minister in charge of Water and Energy, expressed confidence over meeting the deadline.She observed that the project is moving according to plan. “Today, what we have seen shows us that everyone involved in this project is making every effort to keep the project on track and ensure that it is completed on time,” he noted.Once completed, Nyabarongo hydro-power plant will be the largest hydropower installation in Rwanda, to date.The construction is being executed by Angelique International Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.Currently, works are concentrating on building a dam to lay the ground on the installation of the power plant.It is expected that by the end of this year, the dam concreting will be completed and that the first machine, generating 14 MW, will be operational by December 2013.During the retreat of senior government officials it was emphasised that energy needs to be prioritised to ensure that the country achieves its development aspirations.The government has an ambitious plan of having at least 1000 megawatts of electricity on the national grid by 2017.

National

PM tours Nyabarongo power project