Experts sent by Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) are currently carrying on assessment study on impact of the regional Rusumo Hydro power project to the population.
The study is expected to unearth general impact of the project from environment, area affected, people affected and how they will be compensated up to benefits it largely bring to member countries.
Nile Basin Discourse Forum is a network of civil society organizations from the 10 countries of the Nile Basin that aims to promote sustainable and equitable development, poverty reduction, and cooperation between all countries in the Nile Basin.
“We have sent experts to report possible ways of making the project successful without harming anyone and causing any problem,” said Jean Batiste Habiyaremye the chairman of NBDF-Rwanda who also doubles as a treasurer of the same forum at the regional level based in Entebbe, Uganda.
According to Habiyaremye, one expert from Rwandan side is expected to file in a report late this week and the findings of the study expected are documented importance of the project and how it will affect families residing near Rusumo falls where the hydro power plant will be constructed.
Rusumo hydro power project is expected to increase hydro power production by 90 MW in three countries including Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.
Other experts from the Nile Basin member countries are also said to be conducting the same study and one over all report will be compiled to be thoroughly discussed in order to also compare it with other stakeholders’s report to come up with one report to be tabled in the infrastructure Ministers from the member countries late this year.
Nile Basin Discourse Forum also seeks to maximize the social, economic and environmental benefits available to poor people within Nile river countries and to ensure that there is a more equitable distribution of these benefits across the Nile basin area.
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