NELSAP-CU has stepped up preparation for full feasibility and detailed design studies of the Akanyaru Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project that will be shared between Burundi and Rwanda. The project, located on the trans-boundary Akanyaru River, comprises a 52m high dam with storage capacity of 333 million cubic metres that will supply water to 614,200 people and irrigate 12,474 ha directly benefitting 24,948 farmers. It will also generate 14.5 MW hydropower which will power 141,111 homes and serve 846,000 people. This project was identified in 2012 by Rwanda and Burundi with support from NELSAP-CU. NELSAP-CU did detailed identification studies in 2012 with financing from a Sweden-Norway grant. In 2016 NELSAP-CU prepared a Project concept note and did a full proposal in March 2018 for funding from the AfDB NEPAD-IPPF.
FROM LEFT. MTCHERA CHIRWA JOHANNES FROM THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, AFDB (NEPAD-IPPF) RAHEL KABA EBBA FROM AFRICA WATER FACILITY (AWF) MS. MUKARUBIBI FATINA THE RWANDA PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, ENG. MARC MANYIFIKA, THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF LAND, WATER AND FORESTRY AND NELSAP-CU SENIOR STAFF DURING THE AKANYARU PROJECT APPRAISAL MISSION IN RWANDA
Speaking during the Nile Equatorial Lakes Council of Meeting (NELCOM) on 29.11.2019 in Nairobi, Hon. Deo-Guide Rurema, the Burundi minister in charge of water affairs, reiterated his country’s commitment to the Akanyaru project and confirmed that through coordination of NELSAP-CU the two countries would soon be signing an MOU on its implementation.
AfDB / NEPAD-IPPF and African Water Facility (AWF) Appraisal Mission
Early November 2019, NELSAP-CU hosted a team from the African Development Bank (AfDB) NEPAD-IPPF (Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility) and from the African Water Facility (AWF) for an appraisal mission in Rwanda to discuss among others modalities for financing of this project and to get country commitment on the same.
“Rwanda commends NELSAP-CU for following up on this project all the way from identification, prefeasibility and now full feasibility,” said Ms. Fatina Mukarubibi, the Rwanda Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment. She was speaking during the AfDB / NEPAD-IPPF appraisal mission.
“Following review and technical screening of the Akanyaru project, it was found to present a strong case for socio-economic development in the sub-region because it will address food, water and energy security, and contribute to economic development, thus the project is eligible for NEPAD-IPPF and AWF support and has accordingly been included in the 2019 Work Program for preparation,” said Mr. Mtchera Johannes Chirwa, Chief Infrastructure and PPP Specialist from the AfDB’s NEPAD-IPPF.
Burundi and Rwanda formally mandated NELSAP-CU to prepare the project into full feasibility, and to conduct on their behalf, detailed design, tender documents preparation, environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and a resettlement action plan (RAP). This phase will commence in March 2020 and cover a 24-month period.
THE AKANYARU RIVER