IFC is considering an investment in the 206 MW Ruzizi III Regional Hydropower Project, a run-of-river hydropower development on the Ruzizi River, which forms the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Project is being developed under a public-private partnership and will be owned and operated by Ruzizi III Energy Limited (REL), a special purpose vehicle jointly held by private investors and the governments of Rwanda, DRC, and Burundi. The Project aims to increase access to clean, renewable electricity in the Great Lakes region, reducing reliance on expensive thermal generation and supporting broader electrification efforts.

The Project will consist of a 51-meter-high dam creating a reservoir of approximately 46 hectares, a 3.8-kilometer headrace tunnel, and a surface powerhouse with three 70 MW turbines. A 7-kilometer, 220 kV transmission line will connect the powerhouse to the grid, facilitating electricity distribution across the three participating countries. Additional infrastructure includes access roads, worker camps, and contractor laydown areas to support construction and future operations.

Ruzizi III is the third hydropower project in the cascade, following Ruzizi I and II, which have been in operation since 1959 and 1989, respectively. The Project is expected to nearly double Burundi’s current electricity generation capacity, increase Rwanda’s installed capacity by nearly 30%, and provide baseload power to the eastern DRC. The development is considered critical for regional energy security and economic growth.

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been developed by SLR Consulting on behalf of the Project Sponsor. The project ESIA and related studies are disclosed alongside this early disclosure. The project has been provisionally classified as Category A, subject to confirmation during appraisal. IFC will publish its own Environmental and Social Review Summary at a later date.