The funds will cater for the construction of a river dam between DRC and Rwanda from Ruzizi River and also for the erection of a 147MW power plant and distribution station that will serve three countries namely; Rwanda, DRC and Burundi.

This initiative will assist the countries in reaching their immense energy needs by providing reliable and affordable electric power. The hydropower plant is anticipated to increase access to electricity by 300% in the named countries and thereby contributing to the sustainable socio-economic transformation of the region.

Henceforth, as a regional project, the electricity generated will also feed into the East African Power Pool (EAPP).

“At least US$139m will be borne by the AfDB’s public sector window and US$50m by the private sector window,” said a statement from AfDB.

Implementation of the project will be carried out at a total cost of US$ 625m (of which the US$ 138.88 million will be borne by the AfDB’s public sector window and US$ 50m by the private sector window).

Ruzizi III hydropower plant project is part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and involves Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. It is the first regional power project in East Africa to be established as a public-private partnership (PPP).

The African Development Bank Group is a multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries. Founded in 1964, it comprises of three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund.

Their mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region.