$600m Rusumo power project to kick-off soon

Kirehe–The long awaited construction of the multimillion Rusumo hydro-electric power plant is set to commence soon.This was disclosed by the Minister of Infrastructure, Albert Nsengiyumva, while addressing residents and local leaders at the Rusumo border over the weekend.The $600 million project, which is expected to boost the country’s electricity generation capacity, will be mainly funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank.Minister Nsengiyunva said the project needed the endorsement of area residents, adding that some activities along the border would inevitably be relocated.“We need the hand of every body...we are here to assess the practicability of the power plant construction,” he stated.The project is under the Nile Basin Initiative that brings together four countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania that share the Akagera River.Engineers said the construction of the proposed 90MW Rusumo hydro electric power plant would neither affect the water flow of River Kagera nor the environment.The district mayor Protais Murayire said the population residing within the area where the construction will take place had been well sensitised about the relocation process.He noted that authorities had already set aside land to accommodate the activities of those to be affected.“It is unavoidable that some people’s activities will be moved elsewhere to pave way for the construction. This will, however, be temporary as they would return after the construction,” he explained.Joel Munyanziza, a businessman at the border area, lamented that the construction of the power plant was taking longer than anticipated.“Several meetings and consultations have taken place but to date, the works are yet to commence which is affecting us,” he observed.“Let the work start so that we plan for permanent settlement along the border.”

National

$600m Rusumo power project to kick-off soon