GasMeth Energy Boosts Investment in Lake Kivu Methane Gas Project to 810 Billion Rwf

GasMeth Energy Ltd, a company extracting methane gas from Lake Kivu, has announced an additional 230 billion Rwf investment into its gas extraction and processing operations, bringing its total investment to 810 billion Rwf. The first phase, valued at 522 billion Rwf, aims to supply methane gas for both domestic and industrial use, according to The New Times.

The project stems from a 2019 agreement between the Rwandan government and GasMeth Energy to harness methane gas for cooking, industry, and vehicles. Under the 25-year contract, GasMeth Energy is expected to extract up to 40 million cubic meters of methane per day, enough to supply 300,000 to 400,000 households based on current usage.

On August 18, 2022, the foundation stone for the processing plant was laid in Bwishyura Sector, Karongi District, marking the start of essential construction works. The project has faced challenges in securing investment and sourcing equipment internationally. CEO Stephen Tierney noted that delays were partly due to the need to secure buyers for the gas before raising sufficient capital, as well as slow delivery of key machinery from abroad.

“This time, the onshore and offshore works are almost complete. The underwater works have also begun,” Tierney said.

Supported by the Rwandan government and institutions such as Afreximbank, the plant has already employed 250 workers, with plans to expand the workforce to 800 by next year.

The project aligns with Rwanda’s push for environmentally friendly cooking fuels. According to the Seventh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (EICV7), households using clean fuels increased from 1% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2024. The survey highlights that 75% of households still rely on firewood, 18.8% use charcoal, and 5.4% use gas, biogas, or electricity. In Kigali, 23% of households use gas, compared to 59% using charcoal and 17% using wood.

GasMeth Energy will become the third company producing methane gas from Lake Kivu, following KivuWatt and Shema Power Lake Kivu, further strengthening Rwanda’s efforts to expand clean energy access and reduce dependence on traditional biomass fuels.