Flagship project
Renewing a Shared Hydropower Asset for Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda
Ruzizi II's rehabilitation will renew a regional hydropower plant and substation serving the interconnected systems of Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda.
The challenge
A shared plant must remain technically reliable while serving three national systems and operating through a regional institution. Ageing equipment at Ruzizi II and Mururu II therefore needs rehabilitation alongside environmental and social due diligence, procurement discipline and institutional reforms within SINELAC.
Our goal
Reliable performance at the Ruzizi II hydropower plant and Mururu II substation is the programme's central objective. It also seeks to strengthen the regional organisation responsible for the asset so that renewed infrastructure supports lasting cross-border electricity cooperation.
Our approach
Technical investigations and environmental and social studies define the rehabilitation scope before tender documents are prepared. Delivery is followed through design review, factory acceptance, construction supervision, testing and commissioning. Training and warranty support accompany the physical works, while organisational measures address SINELAC's capacity to manage the shared facility.
Impact in numbers
Rehabilitated equipment can improve the reliability of renewable electricity shared among Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda. Stronger plant management may reduce operational risk and reinforce trust in regional power exchange. The project can therefore preserve an existing clean-energy resource while demonstrating the enduring value of jointly managed infrastructure across borders.
Key highlights
- The investment reaches beyond the powerhouse to the Mururu II substation and the institution operating both.
- Its regional setting requires technical decisions to work for three interconnected countries.
- Factory testing, commissioning and warranty oversight create quality gates, and institutional reform connects the renewed assets with stronger long-term management.
Success story
Ruzizi II is more than a power station located beside a river; it is a regional asset whose performance affects three countries. Rehabilitation creates an opportunity to renew that shared value. Technical studies identify what the ageing plant and Mururu II substation require, safeguards examine how works interact with people and the environment, and procurement converts the findings into an accountable programme. Supervision, testing and training then protect the transition back into dependable operation. At the same time, reforms within SINELAC address the organisation that must manage the facilities after construction teams leave. If these strands advance together, the project can sustain renewable generation and strengthen the practical cooperation on which an interconnected regional system depends.