The World Bank Regional Director, Infrastructure in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (AFE).
Site visit to the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP).
Saturday, 24th February 2024
World Bank Regional Director, Infrastructure in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (AFE) Dr. Wendy E. Hughes, Senior Operations Officer Ms. Fowzia Hassan, Energy Specialist Ms. Clementine Umugwaneza, Infrastructure Program Lead Mr. Mitsunori Motohashi Managing Director EDCL Felix Gakuba, Technical Advisor to the EDCL Managing Director Joseph Ntwari on Saturday, February 24, 2024, visited the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project (RRFHP).
The 80MW hydroelectric project is a collaborative effort between the Governments of Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, aiming to enhance the electricity supply to their national grids.
The project is funded both by the World Bank (providing 340 million USD for the power plant), and the African Development Bank (funding 128 million USD for 372 kilometres of 220KV transmission lines), with an energy generating capacity of 80 MW of clean and renewable energy that will enhance regional energy security in meeting the growing electricity demand in the three Countries.
Photo: PIU Project Manager Eng. Alloyce Odour, explaining operation and control systems for the Rusumo hydropower plant to the World Bank delegates.
During the visit, the team explored main components of the project:
1. Intake/spillway/Dam Structure;
the area consists of two water passages, power intake with five hydraulic gates each of which is 10.8 meters wide. The five passes converge to one large pass (headrace tunnel 700m to Powerhouse Plant). The other passages are spillway at the right of the dam, consisting of four gated passes. Each pass is 11 meters wide and is regulated by the radial gate.
2. Powerhouse:
The entire powerhouse is located to the left side of the Mitako
basin and is completely founded on bedrock. The choice for this location is influenced by the geology of the rock cliff and the Mitako Basin as well as the space required to direct a free flow into the Powerhouse by introducing a gated Inlet Chamber, integrated with a trifurcate and three penstocks, which connect the Powerhouse spiral cases without the provision of any butterfly valve. Total Powerhouse capacity is optimized to 80 MW using three Kaplan units.
3. Switchyard:
The 220 kV Switchyard is on the left bank overlooking the Kagera River covering a flat area of 210 m x 122 m consisting of all incoming and outgoing line gantry towers, a large number of electrical equipment, and a control room building equipped with basement-type crawl space for cables.
The substation is of the double bus bar type with three-line bays, with three transformer (GSU) bays and possibilities for an extension.
The World Bank delegation also had the opportunity to visit and see the progress on some of the Local Area Development Projects under RRFHP social and economic initiative services support to the surrounding community (Ngara and Ngoma districts) affected by the Project namely:
• The Rusumo Water Project in Ngara district which is now in operation supplies safe and clean reliable water for the local population of approximately 15,000 people including RPCL, private and public institutions such as churches, schools, and health centers.
• Youth Employment for Global Opportunity Center (YEGO) in Ngoma district which focuses on youth empowerment for global opportunities. It aims to equip young people with essential skills, promote entrepreneurship, and foster talent development.
As the project is at the stage of completion, the World Bank Regional Director for infrastructure for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (AFE) Dr. Wendy E. Hughes appreciated the progress of the Project and the collaboration between the three neighbouring nations as it stands as a testament to their shared vision for progress.
The World Bank delegates also emphasized that the remaining social and safeguards aspects of the project are paramount and must be completed before the end of the project.
Photograph: From left to right, Ms. Joyce Nyantory RPCL Senior Accountant, Mitsunori Motohashi WB Infrastructure Program Lead, Ms. Fowzia Hassan WB Senior Operations Officer, Ms. Clementine Umugwaneza WB Energy Specialist, Dr. Wendy E. Hughes WB Regional Director for Infrastructure for Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE), Ms. Louise-Andree Ndayizeye NELSAP Communication Officer, Eng Ntare Karitanyi RPCL Managing Director, Mr Felix Gakuba EDCL Managing Director, Engineer Patrick Lwesya RPCL Plant Manager, and Mr. Joseph Ntwari Technical Advisor to the EDCL Managing Director