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According to the Bank’s website, the Project Development Objective is to increase the supply of clean hydropower electricity to Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda by leveraging private capital.
The Ruzizi 3 Regional Hydropower Plant Project (Ruzizi 3 HPP or Project), which will have an installed generation capacity of 206 MW, is located in Central Africa along the Ruzizi River which forms a natural border between Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), flowing southwards from Lake Kivu into Lake Tanganyika. Ruzizi III will be located downstream of the existing Ruzizi I (29.2MW) and Ruzizi II (43.8 MW) HPPs, commissioned respectively in 1958 and 1989. Ruzizi I HPP is located 3 km downstream of the outlet of Lake Kivu and controls the discharge from Lake Kivu. A fourth hydropower scheme, Ruzizi IV, is also planned in the future. The Ruzizi 3 HPP is configured to include the construction of a dam (51 meters high), a 3.8 km long headrace tunnel, a power station (206 MW installed capacity with an expected annual production of 1,140 GWh) and a 7 km long double circuit 220 kV transmission line to a substation at Kamanyola which is adjacent to the common border between the three countries. It includes a compact reservoir (approx. 46 hectares of inundated surface area) to provide regulation capacity and support the daily peak demand of the three countries.
The scope of the Project also includes the following ancillary infrastructure: (i) permanent roads and access roads (9.6 km in DRC and 19.5 km in Rwanda), (ii) quarries and Borrow pit sites, and (iii) Spoil Disposal Areas.
The project will include four components funded by various sources, including the CSs, concessional and non-concessional lenders, and the private sponsors:
(i) Component 1: Hydropower Facility;
(ii) Component 2: Substation and transmission lines;
(iii) Component 3: Local area development; and
(iv) Component 4: Project management and technical assistance.
The Project presents significant E&S risks, both rated as high. The environmental risks stem from the complex financing structure involving multiple lenders with varying standards, necessitating harmonization to avoid compliance issues. The project's scale, including the construction of a large dam and transmission lines, will alter landscapes and ecosystems. Key environmental risks include seismic and landslide threats, dam safety concerns, habitat loss, river flow changes, pollution, waste generation, labor conditions, and ecosystem service impacts. Transporting personnel and materials will increase traffic and road safety risks. Technical Assistance and Local Area Development Plan investments may trigger further environmental risks, such as occupational health and safety issues, waste generation, habitat alteration, vegetation clearing, contamination, increased water abstraction, and road safety concerns. The lack of an EPC contractor and limited authority capacity for supervision necessitate effective oversight. The challenging terrain and climate change vulnerability are also important factors to be considered. There are significant social challenges, such as (i) involuntary resettlement & land acquisition, affecting 2,387 PAHs and informal vendors; (ii) labor risks related to poor working conditions;(iii) labor influx and camps; (iv) traffic accidents, STIs and SEA/SH risks; (v) potential intensification of tensions and social conflicts, including due to increased pressure on land and health facilities, along with the risk of potential exclusion of vulnerable groups and elite capture; and (vi) cultural heritage impacts on sites like modern era churches, religious sites, and graves. Regional volatility, political instability, weak governance, and insecurity in eastern DRC exacerbate E&S risks.
Total Project Cost: US$ 300.00 million
IDA Credit: US$ 200.00 million
IDA Grant: US$ 100.00 million
RUZIZI III ENERGY LIMITED (REL) is a special purpose vehicle that has been established and registered in Rwanda to develop the RUZIZI III Regional Hydroelectric project.
| Private Actor 1 | Private Actor 1 Role | Private Actor 1 Sector | Relation | Private Actor 2 | Private Actor 2 Role | Private Actor 2 Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | Ruzizi 3 Energy Limited | Client | - |
CONTACT POINT - World Bank
Task Team Leader: Thierno Bah
Title: Senior Energy Specialist
Email: tbah@worldbank.org
TTL Contact: Mitsunori Motohashi
Job Title: Lead Energy Specialist
Email: mmotohashi@worldbank.org
TTL Contact: Laurencia Karimi Njagi
Job Title: Senior Energy Specialist
Email: lnjagi@worldbank.org
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK
The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint
