Plans underway to construct Rusizi power dam

RUSIZI -Consultations are still underway for the construction of a hydro electric power dam set to be built on River Rusizi to boost power supply in the three countries, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC). Engineer Claude Kayitenkore, Rwandan Director of Power and Energy in the construction project, revealed this on Tuesday at a two-day meeting that attracted representatives from the three countries, in Rusizi district. The meeting was meant to examine the necessary inputs needed for the project, including the cost of the dam to be built on River Rusizi. Kayitenkore, said the construction programme of the dam expected to cost approximately $ 450million , will be accomplished by 2012. “In September this year, ministers will meet and give us their final decision on the plan of the dam construction and the funding. Thereafter construction works will begin,” he said. The dam is expected to generate 148megawatts of power to be shared among the three countries. “We aim at identifying more sites that can provide electricity on River Rusizi and a second dam will be constructed, immediately after accomplishing the first one,” said Sabath Rusunzu Ntigambirizwa, a representative from Burundi. Ends