As per the Infrastructure Ministry in Rwanda, the initial survey for the construction of the 27.5 megawatt (MW) Nyabarongo hydro-power plant is well in progress. Infrastructure Ministry Energy Sector Coordinator Yussuf Uwamahoro, said that Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), contracted to construct the plant, has already embarked on a survey, which will be concluded in three months time. A consortium of BHEL and Angelique International Ltd (Angelique) is working on the project.
Right now, Angelique has started conducting engineering studies that include looking at the geological conditions, Uwamahoro said.
This company is going to undertake the civil works part of the contract and they are already on the ground and have deployed some staff to collect preliminary data, Uwamahoro added.
The State Minister for Energy Eng. Albert Butare and other officials laid the project’s foundation stone in Ndaro sector, Ngororero, Western province in December 2008.
BHEL and Angelique are under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement.
When completed, in about four years’ time, the plant will be the largest domestic hydropower plant in the country, producing almost half the power currently being utilized.
Uwamahoro also stressed that measures are being taken to guarantee the project’s appropriate progress.
Uwamahoro explained that as Angelique was now making steps forward, a private supervising company was being looked for.
We are in the process of recruiting a consulting firm, to supervise, cross-check and control everything. Hopefully by the end of this month (January) that will be settled, Uwamahoro stated.
$99.7 million has been partly availed by Axim Bank in a $80 million line of credit to be refunded in 20 years.