Hydropower plant contributing to cheaper and more reliable electricity in East Africa
This year, a hydropower plant was put into operation at Rusumo Falls, with aid from Norway. With a capacity of 80 megawatts, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than half a million households, the hydropower plant makes an important contribution to clean and stable energy in Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda.
The power plant is jointly owned by Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda and is situated on the Kagera river along the border between Rwanda and Tanzania. The energy produced is shared between the countries. The power plant supplies, for example, local hospitals in Burundi, such as the hospital in Gitega. This is helping improve healthcare services, which can save lives.
Norway contributed NOK 10 million early in the development phase, as well as further support through core funding to the African Development Bank and the World Bank. Norway has also contributed technical assistance through the World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) to ensure that international environmental and safety standards were met during the construction phase. The total cost of the project was USD 450 million.