World Bank-Funded $340m Rusumo Power Plant Construction to Begin

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Facility at Rusumo Falls will take 3 years to complete, provide 80 MW for Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania, according to World Bank statement.

• Plant will be managed by Rusumo Power Company, a utility jointly owned by the three nations
• African Development Bank is financing a further $121m for transmission lines that will connect power plant to national grids
• JV between Chinese companies CGCOC Group and Jiangxi Water & Hydropower Construction Company Joint Venture of China will carry out civil work, supply and installation of hydro-mechanical equipment
• Consortium of Rusumo Falls Andritz Hydro of Germany and Andritz Hydro PVT of India will supply, install electro-mechanical equipment
• Project will provide 26.6 MW to each state, strengthen regional power interconnection
• NOTE: Only 6.5% of Burundians have access to electricity, according to World Bank data. Tanzania is at 15%, Rwanda at 18%
• NOTE: Project secured the Washington-based lender’s board approval in 2013.