Ruzizi Hydropower

Ruzizi III involves the construction of a new sub-regional hydroelectric plant in the Ruzizi River, a natural border between DRC and Rwanda upstream the river flow, and DRC and Burundi downstream. This plant is expected to generate 143 MW of power by 2013 and will play a critical role to reduce the energy shortage of the 3 countries of the Great Lakes region. Total Project Cost for the construction of Ruzizi III is estimated at 300 million Euros. 

The project studies are promoted by "Électricité des Grands Lacs" (EGL), a regional organisation responsible for the elaboration of the strategy of energy development in the Great Lakes region. 

The EU mobilised the financing needed to carry out of the first phase of the technical studies in 2007. The ITF Grant is used to finance additional and complementary studies for the preparation of this project, mainly focusing on the economic and financial viability of the project and its institutional arrangements, including the management of the water flow and interactions with the existing plants. The studies will also review the interconnection of South Kivu and North Kivu and their interface with the CEPGL interconnected network.   

A second phase of project preparation will consist of further studies to bring the existing ESIA, which provides a good baseline for complementary studies, to a bankable format.  In addition, the consultant should carry out other technical studies to complement the existing tasks defined in the terms of reference of the first phase of studies.  

Part of the ITF Grant will be used for institutional capacity support to the EGL.