A hydropower project shared by Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is getting a funding boost of US$24.17 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB), newswires have reported.
The Government of Rwanda signed the deal with the Bank for the 147MW Ruzizi III project yesterday, said AllAfrica.com.
Ruzizi III is the hydropower project designed as a public-private partnership in the region, the Rwandan government has said. It will involve the construction of a run-of-river dam straddling the Ruzizi River between the DRC and Rwanda, as well as the 147MW power plant and distribution station.
The project is expected to increase the region's access to electricity by 300% and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic transformation of the region. The DRC, Rwanda and Burundi have all been experiencing difficulties in meeting electricity demands due to a lack of major energy infrastructure investment during the past decade, while their populations and economic activity have continued to grow.
Electricity generated from this project will also feed into the East African Power Pool.
