Rwanda’s Nyabarongo II hydropower project nears completion

Rwanda’s Nyabarongo II Hydropower Project is 75 percent complete and scheduled to be commissioned by December 2027. The project, which costs over $340 million, is designed to become the nation’s largest hydropower plant, adding 43.5 MW to the national grid.

Beyond electricity generation, the multipurpose infrastructure includes a 48-metre-high gravity dam that will create an artificial lake covering approximately 67 kilometres. This reservoir is expected to support irrigation for 20,000 hectares of farmland, provide water supply, and facilitate a new inland waterway linking Kigali to the Northern Province. Additionally, the project plans to host up to 200 MW of floating solar capacity on the reservoir’s surface.

The project has faced delays from its original 2025 completion target, partly due to Covid-19 restrictions affecting community relocation. Funding for the initiative includes a $214 million concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, with support from the African Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The project is a key component of Rwanda’s goal to achieve universal electricity access by 2030.