Hydropower for Southeast Africa

The Nile Equatorial Lake Subsidiary Action Program is about to help Burundi, Tanzania, and Rwanda receive some power through a 80 MW hydro-electric project. Tanzania’s Commissioner for Energy and Petroleum, Bashir Mrindoko, said the project, which is designed to produce 60 MW to 80MW of power is expected to start early 2009 with the construction of the $190 million Rusumo hydropower project on the Kagera river. The project has a completion date set for 2011.

The three countries signed a Joint Project Development Agreement that commits them to a series of milestones, including a target date for financial closure, procedural terms for project management, adopting a development schedule and budget, and exploring all financing options including private sector participation in the project.

While the power generation produced from the project isn’t large, it is expected to have a positive impact on the three countries. A project analysis shows that outcomes at the regional level include an increase in economic activity, private sector development, and investments in social infrastructure and services facilitated by improved access to affordable electricity. The project also provides for important interconnections among the three countries, contributing towards the medium and long-term goals of interconnecting with the East African Community and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).