21st March, 2012 at Novotel Hotel, Rwanda joined the rest of NBI member countries to celebrate Nile Day whose theme was” Water, Energy, Food, Importance of Nile cooperation”.
Speaking as a guest of honor, the Deputy Director General of Integrated Water Resources Management in Rwanda Natural Resources Authority, Kabalisa Vincent de Paul highlighted the role of water resources in increasing and ensuring hydro power energy and food security among NBI member countries.
“Our thinking today should focus on the role that water Resources render to us” Kabalisa said,
“Food security can be threatened by the lack of water and energy, so, today we should work together to ensure that no one sector is harming one an other” He added
Kabalisa urged participants in the celebration to understand the value of different projects that Nile Basin Initiative is implementing in its member countries.
He emphasized that those projects will be beneficial not only to present generation but also to future generation.
Through out presentations, participants put more emphasis on the sustainable management of regional water resources and making sure that projects which are being undertaken are having positive impacts on people’s livelihoods.
The regional Rusumo falls hydro-electric and multipurpose project is one of the projects being conducted by NBI through its Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP).
The project is expected to produce 90 MW to be shared between Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
According to Innocent Ntabana, NELSAP regional coordinator said that this electricity interconnection once finished, it will increase power production in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania by developing a common hydropower facility, along with associated transmission lines.
Additionally, the project will contribute to community development near the project area through related social and environmental programs that might include, for example, watershed management or improved access to electricity.
In May, 2011, Ministers in charge of electricity concluded that the project should be public financed, public owned and private management.
The power generation will be located at Rusumo falls on the border between Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
The transmission lines are planned to extend from the power generation plant to Gitega (Burundi), Birembo (Rwanda) and Nyakanazi (Tanzania).
Innocent Ntabana congratulated the continuous support that Rwanda render to NELSAP and its commitment in sustainable management of water resources.
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