The announcement was made during a stakeholders' meeting held at the Kigali Convention Centre on Friday, January 17, 2025.
The project is being implemented as a public-private partnership (PPP). The Ruzizi III Regional Hydropower Project will hold a 70% stake, while the remaining 30% will be shared equally among the three participating countries.
Once completed, the project is expected to benefit all three nations, as the electricity produced will be distributed equally among them.
Mohsin Tahir, the project manager of Ruzizi III, explained that discussions about the project have been ongoing for over a decade among the three countries. However, the project is now in its final stages of preparation, and construction is expected to begin soon, with a timeline of five years for completion.
'This project will not only benefit Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC but will also have a significant impact across the continent. Ruzizi III is the first hydropower plant of its kind in the region,' Tahir said.
'We expect construction to take five years, and by 2030, the plant will begin supplying electricity. The construction phase alone will create over 2,000 jobs. This will be one of the most substantial infrastructure projects undertaken in the past 30 years, leveraging shared natural resources for the collective benefit of all involved nations.'
Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure, Gasore Jimmy, emphasized the importance of the project in addressing the region's energy needs while promoting sustainable development.
'This project represents more than just a hydropower development. It is a beacon of hope for a sustainable and energy-secure future for the people of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo,' Minister Gasore stated.
The Minister reassured stakeholders that any political or diplomatic challenges among the participating countries would not hinder the project's progress.
'Our confidence is based on past collaborations. For example, we have another joint project that has been operational since the 1990s and continues to function effectively. Meetings are held regularly, decisions are made collaboratively, and progress is achieved. For Ruzizi III, we have followed a similar approach, which has brought us this far.'
He further revealed that by September 2025, all stakeholders, including financiers, implementers, and the participating governments, are expected to reach a comprehensive agreement. This will allow construction to commence.
'We have already started issuing contracts to the builders. Once financial close is achieved, construction will begin in 2026 and is expected to take five years to complete,' Minister Gasore stated.
Regional cooperation and security
Charles Vumbi Mbenga, the Director General of the Great Lakes Energy (EGL) company, which oversees energy projects in the East African Community, noted that all three countries are committed to implementing the project.
He urged security agencies in the respective countries to ensure safety in the areas where project activities will take place, as agreed by the participating nations in 2019.
The agreement to implement the Ruzizi III Hydropower Plant project was signed in Kinshasa on July 29, 2019.
The project is expected to cost $625.19 million, with $138.88 million provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and $50.22 million from a private-sector funding mechanism.
Ruzizi III is part of the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and will be constructed along the Ruzizi River, located between Rwanda and the DRC. The project will also include infrastructure for distributing electricity.
This initiative is expected to address energy shortages in Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, which have been exacerbated by rapid population growth outpacing the development of energy infrastructure.
IGIHE
