The Rwandan government is planning to invest up to $935 million in a geothermal power project that is expected to generate some 310 megawatts of power for local and regional use when it is completed in seven years time, Rwanda's energy ministry said Tuesday.
The Rwandan government is planning to invest up to $935 million in a
geothermal power project that is expected to generate some 310 megawatts of power
for local and regional use when it is completed in seven years time,
Rwanda
's
energy ministry said Tuesday.
In a statement, the ministry said that geothermal targets have already been
identified between Gisenyi, Karisimbi Volcano and Bugarama, all in the
country's western rift valley. "The initial project will cost $30.2
million for drilling three exploration wells and doing the site
preparation," the ministry said.
Government officials say that the East African Rift Valley, which stretches
from
Sudan
through
Malawi
provides one of the most suitable sites for geothermal activities because it
has the world's hottest rocks. Geothermal power is generated by steam trapped
underneath hot rocks.
Rwanda
is in
dire need of electricity to power its processing plants, dealing mainly in raw
commodities like coffee and tea as well as minerals like tin ores, wolfram,
coltan and gold.
Rwanda
which
currently generates around 120 MW of power is implementing a pilot project to
extract methane gas to fire power plants aimed at generating at least 25 MW by
2012.
According to the infrastructure ministry, initial estimates suggest methane
extraction could support electricity plants with the capacity to generate
500-800 MW, for 40 years.
Rwanda
and
Congo
are
planning to ramp up generation from the pilot methane gas project to supply at
least 200 MW to
Rwanda
as
well mineral-rich but restive
North Kivu
province, in the next four years.
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