Rwanda, Burundi power project gets financial boost

The construction of power interconnector between Rwanda and Burundi could soon commence after the two countries acquired a major financial boost from the European Union.The project is under the auspices of the East African Community, and the agreement to offset the funding was signed on Friday in Arusha between officials at the EAC secretariat and the European Union.The project, when complete, will enable the two countries to share electricity using a transmission line.The permanent secretary in the Ministry for Infrastructure, James Kamanzi, observed that the feasibility study for the project was done and the funds were now available.“The study was completed and procurement for supervision of construction of the transmission line that links us with Burundi is at an advanced stage. We need the transmission lines such that if we get much power we can be able to sell to or in case of deficit, receive more from other regional countries,” he said.The Rwanda–Burundi 220kV Interconnector is part of a larger ongoing multinational project to interconnect Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Kamanzi stated that it becomes hard to tap electricity from other countries without linked transmission lines, adding that the entire project, if accomplished will reduce the energy costs, and become a major enabler for doing business within the region.Filiberto Sebregondi, the EU Ambassador to Tanzania and to the EAC, and Dr. Enos Bukuku, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, signed the agreement.Bukuku, who signed on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, thanked the EU for its support towards the project, which will take approximately three years to complete at a total cost of 37.7 million Euros.Out of that, the EU is providing €16 million through the European Development Fund, to finance the Burundian component.KfW of Germany is providing €19.7 million out of which €16.7 million will finance the Rwandan section and €3 million the Burundian section.The Governments of Burundi and Rwanda will each contribute €1 million.The other components of the multinational interconnection project are financed by the African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Government of Netherlands.“This is a major milestone in our quest for integration of the energy sector,” Bukuku said, adding that project would pave the way for an EAC energy exchange in the future, which would allow partner states to plug each other’s power deficits by transmitting surplus capacity through an interconnected system.The project entails construction of a 143-kilometre 220kV transmission line from Kigoma (Rwanda) to Gitega (Burundi) via Huye (Rwanda) and Ngozi (Burundi).

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Rwanda, Burundi power project gets financial boost