![Cyprien Bigirimana, a maintainance technician, is seen inside the barge extracting methane gas on Lake Kivu, at the Kivuwatt power plant in Kibuye, Karongi District, in the Western Province of Rwanda, on November 1, 2021. [Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/28871989b3af9452dc50577cd673138f.jpg)
GasMeth Energy Ltd has invested an additional $170 million into its flagship methane extraction and processing project on Lake Kivu, Rwanda, bringing the total investment to over $560 million in a bold push to accelerate the country’s clean energy ambitions.
- GasMeth Energy Ltd injects an additional $170 million, raising its total investment in Rwanda’s Lake Kivu methane project to over $560 million.
- The facility is expected to reach full production of 40 million cubic feet of gas per day by 2027, helping to meet Rwanda’s growing demand for clean energy.
- Backed by Afreximbank and the Government of Rwanda, the project will reduce dependence on imported LPG and cut CO₂ emissions.
- With 75% of Rwandans still using firewood, the project promises a cleaner, more affordable energy alternative across households and industries.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Tierney, said the first phase of the project, valued at just over $360 million, is nearing completion, with all lake sites and onshore facilities already in place and offshore works now underway.
“At this stage, all of the lake sites and onshore work are largely complete, and offshore work has commenced,” Tierney explained.
“The key barge hull is under fabrication, along with pumps, compressors, and other long-lead equipment.”
Once operational by 2027, the project will produce 40 million cubic feet of gas per day, meeting a significant portion of Rwanda’s domestic and industrial energy needs.
“It will help meet Rwanda’s growing demand for cooking gas and automotive fuels, while reducing dependence on imported energy,” Tierney added.
![Cyprien Bigirimana, a maintainance technician seen inside the barge extracting methane gas on Lake Kivu, at the Kivuwatt power plant in Kibuye, Karongi District, in the Western Province of Rwanda, on November 1, 2021. [Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/9b6e843d9fba1b1cde8ef37867909e03.jpg)
Signed in 2019 between GasMeth and the Government of Rwanda, the project faced initial delays caused by complex financing arrangements and global supply chain disruptions.
Tierney revealed that obtaining confirmed gas off-takers and sourcing specialised equipment took longer than anticipated.
Despite these challenges, the project has regained momentum with strong backing from the Rwandan government and international financiers, including the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
The facility, based in Karongi District’s Bwishyura Sector, began preliminary works in 2022 and currently employs about 250 people, a number expected to triple as construction ramps up next year.
Tierney emphasised that the methane-to-gas initiative will not only make energy more affordable but also drive Rwanda’s green transition.
“This will help cut CO₂ emissions, improve air quality, and reduce reliance on wood and charcoal, which are major drivers of deforestation,” he said.
According to the 2024 Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey, about 75% of Rwandan households still depend on firewood, while only 5.4% use gas, biogas, or electricity.
GasMeth’s project, alongside existing methane plants KivuWatt and Shema Power Lake Kivu, could mark a turning point for Rwanda, and perhaps for Africa, in tapping lake methane as a sustainable energy source.
