World Bank official commends work at Kivu methane project

WESTERN PROVINCE RUBAVU—The visiting Vice president of the International Finance Cooperation (IFC), Rachael Kyte, has appreciated the progress of work at Gesenyi methane Gas extraction plant. IFC is a partner of the World Bank group that promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s livelihoods. IFC is also one of the financiers of the construction of Gisenyi Methane pilot plant. Visiting the extraction plant last week, Rachael reaffirmed IFC’s resolution to partner with Rwanda government to ensure improved people’s living standards. The objectives of IFC are to improve the quality of the lives of people in its developing member countries. And our involvement into the project is to support it toward producing power that we hope will lead to economic development through supporting various economic activities. The pilot plant is doing well which gives us a go a head to supporting the government towards the large scale Methane gas extraction, she explained. She was accompanied by the Minister of Energy Engineer Albert Butare. In his remarks, Butare also echoed similar remarks on the progress of work at the pilot plant. Today, we came to witness the final work of the pilot plant which has reached an impressing stage of providing power from the gas extracted from the Lake. This is a special day in the country’s history because we have waited for it for a long time, he said. Butare said the government with support from IFC had plans of improving the current plant which has capacity of producing 5MW to a higher level of producing 100MW in the near future. We have now proved it beyond doubt that the researches which indicated the presence of a big quantity of Methane gas in Kivu were real. The quality and quantity of the gas extracted from the lake is said to be above 50%. These are great results because even some parts of the plant haven’t started operation. This means the quality and quantity of the gas extracted from Kivu will be at a very high level in the near future, he said. Butare called upon investors to come forward to invest in constructing other plants since the Lake had capacity of producing over 700 MW which he said could be exported to the neighboring countries. We strongly believe that methane gas from Lake Kivu will provide a lasting solution to the energy challenges in not only in Rwanda but also the region. It will also lead to the country’s economic development while reducing environmental challenges by reducing the use of fire wood,’ he added. The construction of the Gisenyi methane plant has consumed 10million euros and the pilot plant will provide power to the entire Gisenyi and some parts of RuhengeriEnds