Geothermal exploration in Rwanda : status report

Abstract

Rwanda is looking at future strategy for solving the country’s needs for electricity by developing over 500 MWe in the next 3 years through diversified least cost and cost reflective sources of electricity. Rwanda has no indigenous fossil fuels and the small hydro resources are almost fully developed. To resolve the increasing demand of electricity and diversify its energy resources, Rwanda has put its focus in developing the existing potential energy sources from peat, shared hydro sites and methane gas from Lake Kivu. When looking at other available options for energy, the concept of geothermal appears one option, given that the resource is proven and the development cost is acceptable. This paper outlines the background and current status of geothermal exploration including the initiatives for future exploration and development of geothermal resources in Rwanda.