Rwanda to tap into methane gas to achieve energy ambitions

Rwanda, a country with ambitious electrification goals, is looking to tap into a unique and abundant source of alternative energy - methane gas from Lake Kivu. This lake, situated between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, contains significant amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide and methane in its deep waters. By harnessing this indigenous energy source, Rwanda aims to reduce its reliance on imported fuel and other traditional energy resources. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa's Julius Busimungu, Ron Weiss, the CEO of Rwanda Energy Group, shed light on the country's energy plans and the potential of methane gas as a key player in Rwanda's electrification journey. Lake Kivu already hosts one power station, Kivu, which generates 26 megawatts of power. However, Rwanda intends to further explore and extract gas from the lake to increase its power production capacity. Collaboration with the Democratic Republic of Congo is crucial, as both countries share Lake Kivu and need to work together to maximize its energy potential. One of the companies at the forefront of tapping into the methane reserves of Lake Kivu is Shema Power Lake Kivu, a public-private partnership with the Rwandan government. The company is currently constructing a power plant with the goal of eventually producing 56 megawatts of power. Their phased approach includes an initial output of 14 megawatts in 2021, with the remaining capacity to come online in 2022. While extracting gas from the lake poses challenges, Shema Power is committed to achieving its targets. Looking ahead, Rwanda envisions Lake Kivu contributing up to 800 megawatts of power to the national grid in the long run, with plans to allocate 400 megawatts to Rwanda and 400 megawatts to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government's broader vision includes using methane gas not only for electricity generation but also to support industrial processes and household cooking. Private sector investment is vital for the growth of Rwanda's energy sector. Investors are attracted to Rwanda's stable market environment, attractive opportunities, and promising GDP growth. The government's commitment to purchasing electricity from private producers provides assurance to investors, prompting them to fund projects that align with Rwanda's energy objectives. While the energy generation sector has seen significant investment, Rwanda is now focusing on enhancing its transmission, distribution, and access systems. Increasing connections to households and expanding the network are key priorities for future investments. With agreements already in place for various energy projects, Rwanda seeks to strengthen its infrastructure to facilitate broader access to electricity for its citizens.