The Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) has applied to the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Fund (GRMF) for exploration drilling in Kinigi, northern Rwanda writes AGNES BATETA.
“This grant is made available yearly to encourage development of geothermal prospects of countries in the Eastern Africa,” Emmanuel Kamanzi, the EDCL Managing Director told East African Business Week recently.
Speaking on the development of this steam source, he said, “Geothermal is at the exploration stage and the existence of the resources is yet to be proven. Four prospect areas were identified that is, Gisenyi, Bugarama, Kinigi and Karisimbi.
“Two exploratory wells were drilled in 2013 and 2014 at Karisimbi prospect, but no resource was proven. More detailed surface investigations are planned to start this year for two prospects in the Northern and Western provinces namely Kinigi and Gisenyi respectively for possible exploration drilling,” he said.
The African Union Commission, Germany though state development agency, KfW and the European Union set up GRMF, to help pay for geothermal development in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Kamanzi said the government plans to have a diversified energy structure that incorporates all the available domestic sources.
“We target an energy generation mix composed of hydro, peat, methane, biomass, solar with some diesel by 2017/18. We have key ongoing projects including Kivu Watt (25MW), Hakan peat to power plant of Mamba/Gisagara (80MW), Symbion Methane gas power plant (50MW), Gishoma peat to power plant(15MW), Goldsol Solar power plant (10MW), imports from Kenya (100MW), small micro hydro power plants, biomass and solar power plants,” he said.
Rwanda wants to generate over 500MW of electricity by 2017, up from the present levels of 160MW.
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