The regional Rusumo Hydroelectric Falls and Multipurpose Project is expected to increase power production in Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania by developing a common hydropower facility of 90 MW in the Kagera River Basin along with the associated transmission lines.
According reliable information availed to igihe.com, the project will also contribute to the community development near the project area through related social and environmental programs that might include watershed management, and improved access to electricity.
This was revealed during the 13th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting that ended September 14, here in Kigali. The meeting had attracted experts from the three countries that will benefit in the project.
The investment costs for both generation plant and transmission lines is estimated to cost about U.S$340 million excluding compensation of families evicted and the project study will run until December this year.
Subsequent implementation and financing takes effect in 2012 while project implementation will set off in 2013 up to 2016.
The implementation committee (PIC) was preceded by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting which was held between September 12th -13th.
The advisory committee (TAC) assists the PIC in advising and supervising the preparation and implementation of the Rusumo project which is in essence, a Transboudary project, cooperatively developed and run by the three member countries within the Nile Basin Initiative framework.
While at the meeting, the implementation committee (PIC) discussed the progress made on the preparation of the Rusumo project and approved recommendations made by the TAC with regards to the development of project at Intermediate Development Scheme at 1323.5 meters above sea level.
On the Institutional and Financial arrangements, the PIC approved the strengthening of the project management unit at Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Plan (NELSAP) and gave a go ahead with the finalization of various project-related documentation.
Project Implementation Committee also announced the rotation in the chairmanship of the PIC and Burundi, which was holding the chairmanship handed over to Rwanda effective September 2011 for one year.
It is a tradition within NBI to rotate this position on an annual basis among Member States in alphabetical order.
The power plant that includes the construction of the dam is estimated to consume 1,100 hectares of Burundi’s land, 1,500 hectares on Rwanda, and 600 hectares of land in Tanzania.
Thousands of people will be evicted from the above chunks of land and will be resettled in other areas.
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