Multinational - EGL-technical assistance for RUZIZI IV planning studies (EU Grant)

This intervention relates to the Technical Assistance for Studies on Ruzizi Hydropower Plant Project IV. The preparatory activities should help to determine the best technical, economic, financial and socio-environmental option for the construction of the Ruzizi IV power plant. Ruzizi IV is one of the priority energy infrastructure projects identified by EGL, ECGLC and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). A pre-feasibility study was conducted in 2010 on Ruzizi Project IV. As envisaged today, the Ruzizi IV hydropower plant will have a capacity of 287 MW that will enable it to fully tap the available hydropower potential of 500 MW on Ruzizi River where two power plants are already in operation, Ruzizi I (29.8 MW) and Ruzizi II (43.8 MW), and another is being constructed, Ruzizi III (147 MW), with Bank support. This operation will have three phases: (i) conduct of technical and environmental studies, as well as preparation of the bidding documents; (ii) conduct of studies on the institutional and financial framework and the economic and financial viability study; and (iii) preparatory activities for the project implementation, which includes technical, legal and financial assistance in negotiating the various agreements and associated contracts for the project implementation.