As construction of the 80MW Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP) reached 95% in August 2022, Rusumo substation and associated Transmission Lines to the power grids of the three beneficiary countries (Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania) were also nearing completion. This was revealed to the Rusumo Project Council of Ministers (CoM) during their visit to the project site on 20th August 2022. The Council of Minsters (CoM) comprises the Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure Hon. Dr. Eng. Ernest Nsabimana, the Burundi Minister for Hydraulics, Energy and Mines Hon. Eng. Ibrahim Uwizeye and Tanzania Minister of Energy Hon. January Makamba. The Tanzania Overhead Transmission Lines (OHTL) which will distribute power from Rusumo to Nyakanazi substation was 81% complete by August 2022 and is expected to be fully complete in October 2022.
For Rwanda, the Rusumo-Bugesera-Shango OHTL was 82% complete and is also expected to complete fully in October 2022. While for Burundi, the Rusumo-Muyinga–Gitega OHTL were 98.5% complete and end-to-end testing was ongoing by August 2022. The power utilities executing the Transmission Lines and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPAs) are the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), Régie de Distribution d’Eau (REGIDESO) of Burundi and Rwanda Energy Group (REG-EUCL).
“With the substation and three associated Transmission Lines almost complete the Rusumo Project and three power utilities are holding discussions to sign the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) before the end of October 2022,” said Eng. Alloyce Oduor, the Rusumo Project Manager. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a contractual agreement between energy buyers and sellers and through it the parties come together and agree how they will buy and sell energy generated by the project.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided USD 120 million for the Rusumo substation and Overhead Transmission Lines (OHTL) to evacuate power to the grids of the three countries. NELSAP-PIU is implementing construction of the 80MW Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP) on the Kagera river on behalf of Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania through a USD 340 million funding from the World Bank that includes implementation of benefit sharing component called Local Area Development (LADP) Projects.