Eco army opposed to Rwanda power dam

By Sulah Nuwamanya
WEEKLY OBSERVER

KIGALI: The much-awaited construction of the two big regional hydro electricity generation plants in Rwanda may have to wait longer until environmental concerns recently raised by the civil society are adequately addressed.

The Nile Basin Discourse Forum - Rwanda (NBDF), an environmental civil society body in Rwanda, has released a report that details the negative effects the two dams would have on the local people.

The report that is not opposed to the projects wants authorities to put in place measures to mitigate the possible damage the projects would cause to the environment.

The NBDF contracted the Rwanda-based environment consultancy firm,
Environmentalistes Sans Frontieres (ESF), to carry out the study.
The research revealed that the proposed Rusumo and Russiizi III hydropower projects would cause enormous environmental damage in some areas such as flooding.

“Though the respondents appreciated the likely benefits of the projects, like electricity and development, they were so much worried about physical and economic displacement, health and safety concerns, and the environmental risks,” the 62-page report reads in part.
The report says the two power projects would flood agricultural land, houses, and that there was no clear plan of compensation for the assets that would be lost.

“Many people will be affected directly and the establishment of the two mega hydroelectric power projects will have enormous negative effects, including high cost of electricity for communities around the projects since most of the neighbouring communities live in extreme poverty,” the report says.

It is also feared that the dams would increase the prevalence of waterborne diseases, cause shortage of safe water, and hunger.
“Yes, the project is very good for the regional countries under it and especially Rwanda, but there are serious concerns ranging from cost, safety and environment that need serious attention,” said Jean Bigagaza, the Managing Director of ESF. He added: “Otherwise only the rich are likely to benefit and the poor will suffer the more.”

Bigagaza says the communities near the proposed sites for the two power projects had already started to feel the effects of these projects.
“It is now two years since most of them were instructed to halt any developments on their land in preparation for the projects. The worst thing is that no one has been compensated and now, biting poverty is plaguing the redundant poor households,” he said.

But according to officials of the Ministry of Local Government, Good Governance and Social Development, the said evictions are illegal and were executed by local officials without government knowledge.
The Minister of State for Energy, Albert Butare, has no reservations about the viability and success of the projects, which he insists are a milestone in the socio-economic development of Rwanda.

When operational, these power projects would significantly increase the amount of electricity available to both domestic and business consumers in the region.

Burundi and Tanzania, both suffering shortages of energy would benefit.
The proposed Rusumo Falls Hydropower and Multi Purpose Project (RRFP) is the first major infrastructure project to be promoted by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP) of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) within the overall Kagera Basin Integrated Development Framework.

Using transmission lines from Rusumo to each of the three countries (Kabarondo in Rwanda, Gitega in Burundi and Biharamulo in Tanzania), the RRFP is expected to provide an important backbone transmission interconnection between Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Rusumo project involves the construction of a hydro-electric power plant at the Rusumo falls situated in the Kagera River, just downstream of its confluence with the Ruvubu River, on the border between south eastern Rwanda and north western Tanzania.

Also, the Rusiizi III Hydro power project in the western province would be a run of the river development with a generation capacity of 82 MW.
However, the chairperson of NBDF, Albertine Uwimana is worried that while availability of electricity is imperative, it might come at very high cost.

“This is a very good and timely study. We want to show the government that while it is moving with focus put on generating more power for development, the interests of the communities around the areas to be affected have to be catered for,” he said.