{"id":102640,"date":"2025-06-02T17:08:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T17:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/floating-barriers-to-protect-rusumo-power-plant"},"modified":"2025-06-02T17:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T17:28:09","slug":"floating-barriers-to-protect-rusumo-power-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/floating-barriers-to-protect-rusumo-power-plant","title":{"rendered":"Floating Barriers to Protect Rusumo Power Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>In a bid to protect power generation at the Rusumo Hydroelectric Power Plant, floating booms will soon be deployed on the Akagera River to halt the advance of invasive water hyacinth.<\/p>\n

The Akagera River\u2014which flows between Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi and is regarded as one of the Nile\u2019s most distant sources\u2014transports an estimated 14.6 tonnes of water hyacinth daily.<\/p>\n

This fast-growing aquatic plant is clogging water intakes at the Rusumo plant, reducing water flow and slashing electricity production by about 5 megawatts (MW) per day.<\/p>\n

The plant, which supplies 27 MW each to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, is increasingly threatened by the weed.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo address the issue, we plan to install floating booms\u2014barriers that block debris and invasive plants like water hyacinth from reaching the intake,\u201d said Patrick Lwesya, the plant\u2019s manager. \u201cThe hyacinths have been here for a long time, but they can be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Floating booms are long, flexible barriers placed on the water\u2019s surface to intercept floating debris. Often angled to guide unwanted vegetation into collection zones, they simplify removal\u2014mechanically or manually\u2014and help prevent turbine blockages.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy stopping the hyacinth before it reaches the turbines, the booms will help maintain stable power generation and reduce maintenance,\u201d said Celestin Nshimirimana, an electrical engineer at the power station.<\/p>\n

Efforts are underway across the region to repurpose water hyacinth, transforming it into useful products and mitigating its impact on ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community could use the plants as animal feed or manure, so they are not a complete waste,\u201d Lwesya said. \u201cCurrently, to manage the plants, we sometimes open the gates and push them downstream. We also flush the intake daily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Rukundo, Director General of the Rwanda Water Resources Board, said the government is turning harvested water hyacinth from lakes and wetlands connected to the Akagera River into various products.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater hyacinth is among the most problematic aquatic invasive species in Rwanda and the wider region,\u201d he said. \u201cOver the past decade, especially in the Eastern Province, several initiatives have been rolled out to control its spread.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Lake Cyohoha, mechanical harvesters are in use, while manual removal\u2014largely by cooperatives and locals\u2014is underway in other water bodies. The harvested plant is used for compost, handicrafts, and even biogas production.<\/p>\n

Bugesera women lead the way in Innovation<\/b><\/p>\n

In Bugesera District, women\u2019s cooperatives are turning dried water hyacinth into baskets, mats, bags, bricks, furniture, sandals, hats, lampshades, and decorative items sold locally and abroad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe let the plant dry for about seven days before weaving different products based on orders,\u201d said Perusi Mukamihigo, a cooperative member.<\/p>\n

Research shows compost made from water hyacinth improves soil fertility and boosts crop yields. It’s also being explored as a cost-effective animal feed alternative.<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s Supporting Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Protection for Pro-Poor Green Growth Programme promotes removing water hyacinth from lakes like Lake Ihema, which has shrunk significantly\u2014partly due to the weed\u2019s spread\u2014and converting it into organic fertiliser and biogas.<\/p>\n

While water hyacinth poses a growing threat to power generation and aquatic biodiversity, Rwanda and its neighbours are betting on innovation and collaboration\u2014starting with floating booms\u2014to turn this environmental nuisance into a valuable asset.<\/p>\n

Akagera River transports an estimated 14.6 tonnes of water hyacinth daily.<\/p>\n\r\n