Rubavu: Lake Kivu Methane Monitoring Laboratory Completes 80% of Construction

RUBAVU, Rwanda - Construction of a 2 billion Rwandan franc laboratory to monitor methane in Lake Kivu is now 80% complete, the Rwanda Environment Management Agency (REMA) announced. The facility is expected to be finalized in November and inaugurated the following month.

Located in the Rubavu district, this laboratory is part of the Lake Kivu Monitoring Program (LKMP). It will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for monitoring water and gas quality and protecting the environment, while also serving as a research center for scientists in biology, chemistry, and earth sciences, providing access to equipment rarely available in the region.

Eric Mudakikwa Ruhanamirindi, head of the Lake Kivu monitoring unit at REMA, stated before the Rwandan Parliament's Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock, and Environmental Conservation: "The main objective is to study how to extract methane while protecting the environment."

Alex Mugabo, coordinator of REMA's project implementation unit, explained that the work is progressing well, despite a shortfall of 500 to 600 million Rwandan francs to complete the project. According to him, the necessary funds have already been secured, which will allow the work to be completed smoothly.

Lake Kivu contains between 60 and 70 cubic kilometers of methane, of which 44.7 cubic kilometers are exploitable. It is also used for transportation, fishing, tourism, and water sports.

Rwanda currently operates two methane extraction plants, KivuWatt and Shema Power Lake Kivu, and a third, GasMeth, will soon be commissioned. Over the next five years, the country plans to invest more than one billion dollars to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity, including 136 megawatts from methane, to support various national activities.

This laboratory is expected to strengthen local scientific research and contribute to the sustainable management of Lake Kivu, a strategic resource for Rwanda.