Energy baseline for monitoring vulnerability of the energy sector to the impacts of climate change: Rwanda case study

Abstract

Electricity generation capacity from Ntaruka and Mukungwa hydropower plants in Rwanda, a tiny country in the Central Africa has been declining due to the fall in water levels of lake Burera and Ruhondo. Climate change is thought to be one of the factors causing the decline in water levels in the lakes. A study to establish an energy baseline that will save as a reference for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of measures being implemented to reduce vulnerability of the Rwanda's hydro dams due to the impacts of climate change has been undertaken. The study indicates that hydropower plants of Mukungwa and Ntaruka operate at less than 40% efficiency. Over the past 5 years water level in the lakes has fallen by up to 2 metres. Long term data for temperature shows that temperature exceeding 30oC are becoming more frequent in recent years from 1992 to 2005, while annual rainfall trends shows that the total annual rainfall has declined progressively over the years, since 1961 whereby the value was 1,000 mm/annum to 800mm / annum in 2004. Among the mitigation measures being implemented include sensitisation and training of the communities on environment and climate change coupled with reforestation, afforestation, and improved land use systems that will ensure soil erosion control.

Keywords: Rwanda, Energy baseline, Burera, Ntaruka, Ruhondo, Mukungwa,

Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 6 2007: pp. 10-16