This was revealed yesterday when PAC was receiving explanations from MININFRA and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) on the queries that were reported in the 2016-2017 Auditor General’s report.
Gishoma Peat Power plant construction activities started in February 2013 and were expected to have completed by May 2014. But, the project was delayed and finalized in 2017.
Only four months of operation were enough for the plant to stop due to lack of peat and water to use in production.
MPs said that the plant’s technicians had expressed concerns that the plant will not be productive, but their advices were refuted.
MP Cécile Murumunawabo said that they recently visited the plant, and technicians told them how they had repeatedly warned against the establishment of the plant due to low deposits of peats that should have been used in the production.
The technicians informed MININFRA through the report, but their concerns were not considered.
Murumunawabo added that before construction materials are sent to the site, again technicians wrote to MININFRA urging to transfer them to Gisagara District where they identified enough peat for power production.
According to Murumunawabo, MININFRA should file a report detailing the history of problems in Gishoma Peat Power plant and submit it to PAC so that other institutions in charge would refer to it to conduct follow-up.
According to MP Jean Thierry Karemera, the advice of technicians was not considered and whoever wanted to expose that the project was illegitimately implemented was threatened to be fired from the job.
According to MP Théogène Munyangeyo, the problem should not be explained by REG as MININFRA turned a deaf ear on advice from technicians.
“Losing Rwf40 billion yet technicians repeatedly requested their reports to be considered and others turned a deaf ear, what was the interest behind turning a deaf ear? The problem is not with REG, the ministry should be responsible. You were advised and you turned a deaf ear,” Munyangeyo noted.
PAC Chairperson, Juvenal Nkusi also emphasized that Gishoma Peat Power plant problems should be clarified by MININFRA.
MININFRA Permanent Secretary, Christian Rwakunda said that they are going to prepare a report on plant’s shortcomings and the procedures through which all decisions were taken.
The Auditor General’s report revealed that the plant stopped working in September last year after four months in operation and was producing 5.28 MW , far below the expected 15MW capacity by the time it completely stopped.
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