Rwanda: Nyabarongo II Reaches 75 Percent Completion, Set to Become Rwanda's Largest Hydropower Plant

What the report says

Rwanda’s Nyabarongo II hydropower project is now reported to be 75% complete, marking a significant step toward what will become the country’s largest hydroelectric facility once finished. The New Times, as republished by AllAfrica, said the 43.5-megawatt plant is being built to help strengthen electricity generation and improve power-supply reliability as demand rises in households, businesses and industry.

The project is being implemented by Energy Development Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of Rwanda Energy Group, with Chinese contractor Sinohydro carrying out construction. According to the report, commissioning is expected by December 2027. The plant will surpass the existing 28-megawatt Nyabarongo I facility and differs from it by including a dam and reservoir rather than operating as a run-of-river scheme.

Beyond power generation, the project is designed as a multipurpose development. The reservoir is expected to support water management, flood control, irrigation, tourism, recreation and possibly inland water transport. The article also notes potential future renewable energy uses at the site, including floating solar, though any such expansion would depend on studies, financing and implementation plans.

Construction has faced delays linked to land acquisition, compensation, weather, supply-chain disruptions and higher input costs, but work continues across the dam, powerhouse and transmission line. The project’s scale and associated infrastructure make it important not only for energy supply but also for broader economic development in Rwanda.