August 7, 2014 (Washington, D.C.) – During the
U.S. Africa Head of State Summit this week in Washington, D.C., the Government
of Rwanda’s Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) awarded Symbion Power a
50 megawatt Independent Power Production (IPP) project using methane gas from
Lake Kivu, it was announced today by Paul Hinks, Chief Executive Officer,
Symbion Power.
Symbion will build, own and operate a 50 MW
power station by constructing gas extraction facilities to lift, separate, and
process methane gas, which is dissolved in the deep waters of Lake Kivu, and
then deliver it to an on-shore generating facility located at Cape of Busororo
in the Nyamyumba area of Rwanda. Lake
Kivu contains 300 km3 of dissolved carbon dioxide and 55 to 60 km3 of methane
gas accumulated and trapped at significant depth in the lake.
"We're very excited that with President Obama's recent
announcement of tripling Power Africa's
goals to now add 30,000 megawatts to sub-Saharan Africa, partners such as
Symbion Power are exploring new opportunities in countries like Rwanda where
they have never worked before," said USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah. "Through this new model of public-private
partnership, we can expand opportunity for millions and drive growth at home
and abroad."
In a meeting with Symbion’s Mr. Hinks and USAID
Administrator, Dr. Rajiv Shah during the African leaders summit, Rwanda’s
President Kagame expressed his enthusiasm for the Lake Kivu project and also
acknowledged the successful developments that President Obama’s Power Africa
initiative has already realized.
Symbion Power
is an American company in the electricity generation, transmission and
distribution industry with an established presence in Tanzania, Nigeria, South
Africa and operations throughout Africa; this is the company’s first project in
Rwanda. Paul Hinks,
Symbion CEO said, “Rwanda is an amazing
investment destination. What President
Kagame and his government have achieved over the past 20 years must represent
the most incredible example of nation building in recent history. We have worked towards investing in Rwanda
for the past three years and we are delighted by this new development. We hope other US companies will follow us.”
“Symbion’s IPP project will use Lake Kivu’s
methane resources for a commercial benefit for the people of Rwanda, but it
will also reduce the risk of an environmental disaster,” said Hinks.
“Without the removal of methane and carbon dioxide, there is a risk of a sudden
release of large quantities of these gases with a potentially catastrophic
result.” Rather than just vent the 50-60 km3 of methane, Symbion will use
the produced methane for power generation. The methane gas production
will be used to power reciprocating gas engine generator sets producing 50MW in
a phased approach.
L
to R_Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, USAID Administrator, Dr. Rajiv
Shah, Symbion Power CEO, Paul Hinks at the White House Africa Heads of
State Dinner
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