$350M peat-fired power plant under construction in Rwanda

On May 10, a groundbreaking ceremony took place in Gisagara for a renewable energy plant’s project to be managed by the Turkish Coal company HAKAN AS.

Located in Gisagara district, Southern Rwanda, the peat-fired power plant is to be connected to the national grid by 2018.

With the objective to generate 80MW of electricity, the project when completed is expected to increase national energy production capacity by more than 40%.

Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni declared: “This project is a synergy with other strategic projects that Rwanda has invested in, and is expected to bring more energy independence to our country.”

The Turkish company HAKAN AS manages the project with the global power company, Quantum Power and the development firm Themis. Quantum Power is designated to operate the plant for twenty-six years and then, the Government of Rwanda will take control of it.

Thirty-six months are required to complete the plant.

Around a thousand jobs are to be created during the construction phase and two hundreds others when the plant will be operational.

HAKAN AS CEO added: "We believe this plant will not only bring electricity to the people, it will bring more to this region and to the country.”

The project is worth $350M.