Akanyaru Transboundary Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project

Akanyaru Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project is a transboundary water project involving two Nile Riparian countries - Burundi and Rwanda. The proposed project is located along the transboundary Akanyaru River (a tributary of the Nyabarongo and Kagera Rivers in Lake Victoria Basin) which defines the border between Rwanda"’s Southern Province and Burundi"’s Ngozi Province. The project comprises a 52m high dam with storage capacity of 333 MCM that will supply water to 614,200 people and livestock, and irrigate 12,474 ha directly benefitting 24,948 farmers. It will also generate 14.5 MW hydropower which will power 141,111 homes and serve 846,000 people. The project also includes restoration of degraded watersheds upstream of the dam, flood control and employment creation.

Identification/prefeasibility studies for the project were carried out by NELSAP-CU in 2012 with grant financing from the governments of Sweden and Norway. This was followed in 2016 with the preparation of a project concept note and later in 2018 with a full project proposal. Feasibility studies, which include ESIA and RAP studies and detailed designs, are ongoing under grant funding from AfDB/NEPAD-IPPF and are expected to be concluded in 2022.