The project's general objective is to provide CEPGL (Great Lakes Economic Community) member countries adequate electricity network interconnection infrastructures with a view to increasing cross-border energy and power trading by diversifying electric power production points, and to favour electric power trading between NELSAP (Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme) countries.

The technical and organisational studies in the energy sector in the Great Lakes region focus on the interconnection of North and South Kivu, and on setting up an institutional, regulatory, tariff framework that should enable the implementation of the hydroelectrical developments under study by setting up better conditions for mobilising financing for the implementation of the Ruzizi 3 project.   

Component 1: Institutional restructuring, regulatory framework and management of community hydroelectrical power stations

- Overall outline of institutional and regulatory restructuring aiming for more effective management of Ruzizi 2;

- Study of existing collaborative relations between Ruzizi 1 and Ruzizi 2;

- Recommendation on restructuring scenarios aiming to ensure the partial or total recovery of operations and trade within the framework of a public-private partnership;

- Trade tariff structure (detailed calculation of remunerative tariff elements);   

- Market study of estimated consumptions of the final beneficiaries;

- Setting up of a financial model applicable to each power station and firm (giving a business plan for each option).

Component 2: Technical assistance for the analysis of the financing, implementation and management modes of Ruzizi 3

- Financing options and institutional arrangements (participation of the private sector) for the hydroelectrical power station of Ruzizi 3;

- Identification of private operators/investors;

- Evaluation of risks associated with the implementation of Ruzizi 3 and mitigation measures;

- Analysis of the economic and financial viability of the Ruzizi 3 project;

- Business plan acting as a basis for discussion of the financial set-up.

Component 3: Study on the interconnection of North and South Kivu in DRC, and its interfaces with the interconnected electric grid of the CEPGL

- Study on the rehabilitation and extension of the Bendera hydroelectrical power station, and the rehabilitation of the Bendera-Kalemie line (120km), and preparation of related bidding documents;

- Conduct of a pre-feasibility, feasibility and preliminary design study, and preparation of bidding documents for a high voltage transmission line to supply Fizi, Uvira, Bujumbura and Bukavu;

- Updating of the feasibility study, preliminary design study and bidding documents of the Gomabutembo-Beni line (its interfaces of Nkenda in Uganda and Buni in DRC realised under the NELSAP);

- Drafting of a separate report on the environmental and social evaluation of the interconnection project.

Component 4: Capacity building of EGL (Energie des Grands Lacs)

- Capacity building plan for EGL in the planning, design and monitoring of project studies;

- Energy planning software and communication equipment;

- Strategy of recourse to local experts and consultants (list of local expertise and consultants);

- Publication model for an Energy Bulletin in the CEPGL;

- Technical meetings and study trips on energy;

- Meeting of funding agencies on the community energy sector in the Great Lakes sub-region to present the final results of the studies.