How Rusumo project highlights power of regional collaboration

Rusumo.  The transboundary 80-megawatt Rusumo Hydropower Project has emerged as a testament to the power of regional collaboration, demonstrating its potential for transforming energy landscapes.

Currently, at 99.6 percent completion, this joint venture between the governments of Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi has brought together an investment of nearly $468 million.

For the implementation of the Regional Hydroelectric project and the Power transmission lines, the World Bank and African Development Bank advanced $340 million and $128 million, respectively to the three countries.

Each of the three nations is set to receive a supply of 26.67 megawatts. During a recent visit to the project site, The Citizen learned from the project manager, Mr Alloyce Oduor, that the undertaking is in the most exciting commissioning phase.

Commissioning test procedures are used during the final phase of the plant.

These procedures outline tests to be performed on the major plant systems to ensure all elements of the system operate as designed, and interface with the entire system completely.

According to Mr Oduor, the completion of the commissioning process for generator number one is scheduled for the end of July this year.

Subsequently, the commissioning of unit two will take place in August, followed by unit three in September 2023.

He said that if all the necessary tests and inspections have been passed satisfactorily, the generating unit will be ready to enter commercial operation.

“When we finalise all the commissioning tests and the units have been declared operational, we declare what is called the Commercial Operation Date (COD), and then Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPCL) takes over,” he said.

RPCL is a special purpose company incorporated by the three countries to develop, construct, own, and operate the Rusumo Hydropower Project.

The experts agreed that this project, located at the Rusumo Falls, at the shared border of Rwanda and Tanzania on the River Kagera, will significantly increase the installed capacity for electricity generation in the region and promote a shift towards renewable energy sources.

Nestled within the picturesque landscapes of East Africa, the Rusumo River serves as a lifeline to the surrounding communities, cascading with untapped potential.

Recognising the immense value of this shared resource, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi embarked on a historic joint venture to harness its power through the construction of a state-of-the-art hydropower plant.

The project is being implemented under the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP).

For Tanzania, this project is poised to be a significant boost to the national power grid, extending far beyond just meeting Tanzania’s energy demands but also catalysing the growth of various sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Mr Oduor said this endeavour showcases the collective determination to achieve sustainable development and sets a precedent for future cross-border initiatives across the continent.

The project implementation became effective in 2017 and was supposed to be completed within a 36-month time period.

“There were delays, which are very normal and common in a major project like this.  So we did not attain those dates,” explained Mr Oduor.

One of the major challenges, he said, was the positioning of the project at the border, where there were a lot of cross-border movement issues and paperwork that was sluggish.

“Facilitation of labour and materials from one territory to another was a bit of a challenge, and secondly, the structure of the project implementation was in such a way that managing the interface between two contractors was quite challenging,” he said.

He said the Covd-19 pandemic also interfered with the supply chains and disrupted a number of construction activities, resulting in delaying the deadline.

The Rusumo project’s chief resident engineer, Mr Bosco Mugabo said working on the facility has been a special experience for regional integration as the three countries put resources together and improved the know-how for their communities.

“We have integrated Tanzanians, Rwandans, and Burundians into a project.  It has shown that it is possible to implement such projects,” he said.

“Reaching this stage (99 percent completion) is actually a very big achievement,” said Mr Mugabo.

Learning from mistakes

However, the project engineer said this success came with its challenges, as there were a lot of administrative, technical, and financial setbacks during the implementation.

“There were issues with visas and permits, among other challenges. But there is room for improvement in the future,” said Mr Mugabo.

The hydropower plant will harness the renewable energy potential of the Rusumo River, replacing fossil fuel-dependent sources and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This will align with the Tanzanian national agenda on transitioning to clean energy.

According to NELSAP, contractors also developed detailed assessments and mitigation plans covering all aspects of environmental, social, health, and safety concerns.

This included management plans and comprehensive measures to mitigate ecological impacts, ensure the preservation of aquatic ecosystems, and safeguard the delicate balance of the region’s biodiversity.

Rusumo Project is giving back to the riparian communities surrounding Rusumo Project’s construction area by implementing the Local Area Development Programme (LADP), a benefit-sharing programme worth $15 million.

Through LADP, the construction of the Rusumo Project has the potential to transform the lives of rural communities along the river’s course.

In Tanzania, such social projects included the rehabilitation of water systems in four villages (Mshikamano, Kasulo, Rwakalemela, and Kasharazi), the construction of Rusumo Health Centre, the improvement of Lemela Focal Community Development College (FDC), the rehabilitation of two workshops, and the construction of a playing ground.

Others are the construction of Bukiriro Secondary School, the construction of Lukole Health Centre, the construction and rehabilitation of Rusumo Secondary School buildings, the construction of Rusumo dispensary in Kyenda Village, the construction of Mumiterama Secondary School, and the construction of Rusumo Primary School.

LADP coordinator in Tanzania, Ms Irene Chalamila, said all these initiatives have supported and improved the provision of basic services in the surrounding communities.

Tanzania LADP has also constructed Lukole Health Centre, which is currently functional, staffed, and equipped with all necessities such as medication blocks, convenient toilets, a mortuary, a theatre, a labour ward, and an incinerator, as well as accommodation for health centre staff.

In Rwanda, a notable project in the rehabilitation and extension of a water system in Ngoma district at Gatonde-Gahima cells will benefit about 10,000 people.

Tabling the Energy Ministry’s 2023/24 fiscal year, the Minister for Energy, Mr January Makamba, said power generation plants connected to the national grid have the capacity of producing 1,872.04 Megawatts, a 10.5 percent improvement from the 1,694.55 Megawatts that were reported at the end of the 2021/22 fiscal year.

According to the minister, there is also a rise in demand, which is attributed to the increased number of large customers, especially industries and businesses, which have increased by 5.6 percent, as well as the growth in economic and social activities.

“The electricity demand in the country has continued to grow; during the period of 2022/23, the average electricity demand was 1,363.94 MW, representing a 6.9 percent increase compared to the average of 1,276.43 MW in 2021/22,” he said.

“During this period, the peak electricity demand has increased to 1,431.59 MW (as of May 15, 2023, at 2:00 AM), showing a 6.8 percent increase compared to the 1,340.68 MW reached in 2021/22 (as of May 26, 2022, at 2:00 AM),” said the minister.

For 2023/2024, out of the entire Sh3.049 trillion budgeted, a staggering Sh2.96 trillion—which translates into 97.1 percent of the ministry’s total budget—will be spent on development projects.

Mr Makamba said this huge investment is important because the existing electricity production in the country does not align with the rapidly growing economic and social activities, resulting in a significant infrastructure deficit for electricity transmission and distribution.

The regional Rusumo Falls Project will also have transmission lines associated with the Power Plant facility.

Each of the three partner governments and its utility company will be responsible for the evacuation of power from the power plant.

Three 220kV transmission lines shall be constructed to connect the power plant substation to the respective centres within each country, such as 94km from Rusumo Falls to Nyakanazi in Tanzania, 161km from Rusumo Falls to Gitega (Burundi), and 119km from Rusumo Falls to Shango and Bugesera (Rwanda).

On the Tanzanian side, according to the minister, the transmission lines were completed by February 2023.

In his budget speech, Mr Makamba said the development of the transmission lines had cost $35 million, equivalent to Sh81.41 billion.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) contributed $33.7 million, and the government injected $1.3 million.

According to the minister, there is also a rise in demand which is attributed to the increased number of large customers, especially industries and businesses, which have increased by 5.6 percent, as well as the growth in economic and social activities.

 “The electricity demand in the country has continued to grow, where during the period of 2022/23, the average electricity demand was 1,363.94 MW, representing a 6.9 percent increase compared to the average of 1,276.43 MW in 2021/22,” he said.

 “During this period, the peak electricity demand has increased to 1,431.59 MW (as of May 15, 2023, at 2:00 AM), showing a 6.8 percent increase compared to the 1,340.68 MW reached in 2021/22 (as of May 26, 2022, at 2:00 AM),” said the minister.

For the 2023/2024 out of the entire Sh3.049 trillion budgeted, a staggering Sh2.96 trillion – which translates into 97.1 percent of the ministry’s total budget will be spent on development projects.

Minister Makamba said this huge investment is important because the existing electricity production in the country does not align with the rapidly growing economic and social activities, resulting in a significant infrastructure deficit for electricity transmission and distribution.

The regional Rusumo Falls Project will also have transmission lines associated with the Power Plant facility.

Each of the three partner governments and its Utility Company will be responsible for the evacuation of power from the power plant.

Three 220kV transmission lines shall be constructed to connect the power plant substation to the respective centers within each country such as 94km from Rusumo Falls to Nyakanazi in Tanzania, 161km lines from Rusumo Falls to Gitega (Burundi) and 119km lines from Rusumo Falls to Shango and Bugesera (Rwanda).

On the Tanzania side according to the minister, the transmission lines were completed by February 2023.

In his budget speech, Mr Makamba said the development of the transmission lines had cost $35 million equivalent to Sh81.41 billion.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) contributed $33.7 million and the government injected $1.3 million.