Ruzizi 3 Regional Hydropower Project

pipeline

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. Associated Facilities that will help dispatching the electricity produced by Ruzizi 3 include:• Kamanyola 220 kV Substation is situated in DRC and developed by EGL with financial support from KfW. A Feasibility Study, ESIA and RAP were prepared in 2014. These studies will be updated by appraisal to reflect recent developments in the Ruzizi III Project and align with the World Bank’s Environemental and Social Standards.• Kamanyola-Buhandahada 220 kV Transmission Line. It’s situated in DRC and is being developed by EGL with financial support from the KfW. Pre-Feasibility studies for the 68.5 km line have been completed. However, the studies will need to be updated by appraisal to take into account changes made to the Ruzizi-III HPP, and align with the World Bank’s Environemental and Social Standards.• Kamanyola - Bujumbura 220 kV Transmission Line is developed in Burundi by REGIDESO with financial support from AfDB and KfW. Burundi line is already under construction and completion of works is expected in 2023.• Kamanyola – Karongi 220 kV TL is developed by Rwanda Energy Group (REG) with financial support from the EIB. Feasibility studies are underway and ESIA is due by appraisal.• Kamanyola - Kibuye 220 kV TL is developed by Rwanda Energy Group (REG) with financial support from the EIB. A pre-feasibility study and ESIA were prepared in 2014. However, the feasibility study and ESIA will be updated by appraisal and a RAP prepared.The WB contribution to the Project will include the two following components:- Component 1 will contribute to the financing of the main construction contract that will cover construction of infrastructure including (i) the access roads; (ii) the dam, the spillway and the bottom outlets; (iii) the power intake, the eco-flow bypass and associated hydro unit; (iv) the headrace tunnel; (iv) the penstocks and surface powerhouse with three turbine-generator units; (vi) the 30 kV site transmission lines, substation and transmission lines to Kamanyola substation; and (vii) the employer’s village. These will be included in the scope of a single turnkey Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) contract combined with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Emerald book contract for underground works. - Component 2 will comprise technical assistance and capacity building to the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries for Energy (EGL), its member States, and the public utility companies in order to strengthen their participation in the development of the project. It will also include advisory and analytical work to strengthen the member State’s institutional, legal, and regulatory framework to facilitate the trade and dispatch of electricity between the public utility companies.The Project will be an important part of the power system in the three Contracting States (CS). It will offer significant benefits to the region to which it will provide clean power potentially generating significant revenues and boosting development and stability. Aside from fulfilling energy needs, the Project will enable the displacement of more expensive thermal generation in the region and support the absorption of variable renewable energy sources (such as solar). The Project could thus become a catalyzer for a green energy transition in the sub-region.The CS/EGL will : (i) handle operation and maintenance of REL’s Corporate Social Responsibility investments (electrification of villages; support to the development of fish farming and fisheries activities in the future reservoir; support to the development of sustainable water supply systems in the villages; support to roads improvement; flour mills and small processing installation in the villages; support to improve schools -construction of new rooms and provision of schooling equipment and access to electricity; support to health centers, by provision of medicines and medical equipment); (ii) manage the Ruzizi III Bridge over the Ruzizi river; (iii) create and operate the regional dispatching center; (iv) monitor E&S Conditions in the Environmental Permit; (v) ensure cascade management and watershed and transboundary coordination/dialogue; (vi) implement eventual security management plans, and (vii) implement technical assistance activities. These activities are non-private sector related activities and will follow the ESF Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). Activities to be implemented by Ruzizi III Energy Limited (REL) include construction, operation and maintenance of the hydropower plant; construction and maintenance of access roads (~20km); construction and operation of 220 kV Switchyard; construction and operation of 7.2km 220kV T-line from the switchyard to the Kamanyola substation; construction and operation of permanent Operators’ Camps; exploitation and rehabilitation of quarries, borrow areas and river diversion. The RAP will be implemented by REL. REL will directly employ 25 people with priority to the citizens of the CSs for capacity building purposes. Permanent access roads will be included in the main EPC contract where REL is the employer. REL will be responsible for the maintenance during the operation phase. The bridge over the Ruzizi River will be an operating border crossing point. It will be rebuilt under EPC contract, but it will be managed by the immigration authorities of both countries. CSs/EGL/REGIDESO/Rwanda Energy Group (REG) will develop, finance, construct, own, ensure, operate and maintain the above listed Transmission Lines-TL. Lenders’ E&S standards requirements (WBG’s PS and ESSs) will be applied as they are the most stringent and national standards will be complemented as needed so that all facilities will meet WBG’s PS and ESSs.