PowerChina HuaDong Engineering Corporation Limited

Groundbreaking Ceremony of Nyabarongo-II Multipurpose Hydropower Project Held Successfully

Date：2022-06-17

On 21, May, the groundbreaking ceremony of Nyabarongo-II Multipurpose Hydropower Project which built by STELCOL CORPORATION of Power Construction Corporation of China and POWERCHINA HUADONG ENGINEERING CORPORATION LIMITED (HDEC) has been held at the construction site in Gakenke Districts of Northern Province. The charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, Wang Jiaxin, and the provincial governor of Northern Province of Rwanda, Dancilla Nyirarugero, have present the ceremony. At the same time, over 200 persons have taken part in the groundbreaking ceremony, including the general manager of the Energy Development Corporation Limited, the general manager of the Energy Utility Corporation Limited, retinue of provincial and municipal governments. In addition, representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Rwanda, the Xinhua News Agency, the mainstream media of Rwanda, HDEC East and South Africa Region, East Africa Company of STELCOL CORPORATION and project departments also have attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Counselor of Embassy of China in Rwanda, Wang Jiaxin states that Nyabarongo-II Multipurpose Hydropower Project is a landmark of the cooperation of China and Rwanda, as it is the biggest project promoted by Chinese government and Chinese financial organisations in Rwanda. This project is one of the major projects in ‘Eight Major Initiatives’ which was raised on 2018 Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It is a multipurpose hydropower station with a focus on power generation, releasing flood water and irrigation. Its capacity of reservoir is 803.8 million cubic metres, and the installation of power station is 43.5 MW. Its total duration is 56 months, and it values 214 million American dollars. The scope of Works of this project include building dams, flood releasing system, hydropower system, switching stations and transmission and substation lines, etc. During the project construction period, the economic development Rwanda will be pushed, and many job opportunities and training opportunities can be provided for Rwandan people. Meanwhile, after finishing the project, the demand of electricity of Rwanda also will be fulfilled, because its average electricity generation will achieve 281.9 million kWh after completing the hydropower station, and at the same time, the energy structure will be improved and the problem of lacking electricity in Rwanda could be alleviated. Moreover, the hydropower station also will increase the ability of preventing flood, and decrease flood disasters and waterlogging disasters. Because about 20,000 hectares of marsh could be developed into fertile fields, so it could improve local environment and increase the agricultural yield. The Counselor Wang Jiaxin furthers that Sinohydro is a contractor with advanced technology skills, having many experiences of developing overseas hydropower station projects. The provincial governor Nyirarugero then says that this hydropower project is highly relevant to Rwanda’s environment, economic development and people’s life, so it needs supports of all persons.

The project manager says that this project has been supported by Rwanda’s government, the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of China in Rwanda and the Export-Import Bank of China and many other relevant organisations. Then the manager continues to state that Sinohydro will try to overcome bad effects caused by Covid-19 and to build an excellent project in an all-out effort.

Until now, works about construction camps, concrete mixer system, sand mixing system, temporary roads, and land acquisition and migration of phase 1 project have been finished. Currently, the project is in the process of construction diversion, and will enter the stage of construction of permanent works very soon.

This groundbreaking ceremony has been reported by Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily Online and Reference News et al. At the same time, much advance publicity is given by Rwanda TV and many other mainstream media of Rwanda.

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