Construction of the Nyabarongo II multipurpose dam has reached 78.5% completion, with the project expected to provide a major new water source for Kigali, where demand continues to exceed existing production capacity.
The Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), a subsidiary of Rwanda Energy Group (REG), expects the project to make approximately 450 million litres of water available daily, potentially helping to address the capital’s persistent water shortages.
Kigali currently requires about 210 million litres of water per day, compared with a production capacity of approximately 145 million litres, according to figures from the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC).
This leaves a daily shortfall of about 65 million litres, affecting households and businesses in different parts of the city.
Theoneste Higaniro, EDCL’s Director of Generation and Transmission, told the Rwandan newspaper The New Times that the dam was designed to provide water at a rate of 5.4 cubic metres per second.
“The water will be enough to satisfy Kigali city in the long term,” Higaniro said.
However, the projected water volume does not mean the same amount will immediately reach households. The actual supply will depend on the infrastructure available to treat and distribute water from the project.
Nyabarongo II, being constructed along the Nyabarongo River between Gakenke and Kamonyi districts, is designed to serve several purposes beyond water supply.
Once operational, the dam will generate 43.5 megawatts of electricity, making it Rwanda’s largest hydropower plant by installed capacity, surpassing the 28-megawatt Nyabarongo I facility.
Unlike Nyabarongo I, which relies on the natural flow of the river, Nyabarongo II will have a reservoir capable of storing water for electricity generation and other activities.
The planned reservoir will stretch approximately 67 kilometres across five districts: Gakenke, Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyabihu and Ngororero.
It is expected to cover about 30 square kilometres and store more than 800 million cubic metres of water.
The project is also intended to reduce flooding along the Nyabarongo River, particularly in downstream areas that have experienced repeated damage during heavy rainfall.
Higaniro said regulating the river’s flow would help protect areas around the Ruliba brick factory while supporting agricultural irrigation.
Approximately 18,000 hectares of farmland are expected to benefit from water released for irrigation.
The reservoir could also accommodate floating solar panels as Rwanda seeks to expand renewable electricity generation.
In July 2026, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva told Parliament that plans were being considered to install floating solar panels on the reservoir, with a potential generation capacity of 200 megawatts.
Meanwhile, construction activities have created jobs for nearly 1,000 workers, providing income for residents of surrounding communities.
The project has also required preparations to relocate households whose properties will be affected by the dam and its reservoir.
At least 3,400 households are expected to be affected by expropriation, with the government allocating approximately Rwf70 billion for compensation and resettlement.
The dam is being constructed by Chinese engineering company Sinohydro under a project supported by a $214 million concessional loan agreement signed between Rwanda and China in 2020.
According to REG’s earlier projections, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
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