Lake Kivu forms the western border of Rwanda. It is a natural dividing line between the country and the Congo. Millions of Rwandans and Congolese live on the hills that slope down to the lake.This story from Nature talks about the potential hazards that lie in the lake's depths: it's full of gas, some carbon dioxide but mostly methane, and these gases pose a substantial risk to local people. If they're released from the water, they have the potential to sicken or kill people and animals along the shoreline.
But, these gases--especially the methane--might also prove to be a valuable energy resource for Rwandans. Lack of reliable energy supplies is a major concern in the country as it tries to expand economic activity.
A question then becomes: can the gas be released safely so that businesses can capture it and turn it into electricity? The Rwandan government has already entered into concessions with energy companies to do this and these concessions are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Scientists, however, disagree about the best technologies and strategies for extracting the resources and existing projects have had limited success. Here's a discussion of some of the problems.
Two issues come to my mind when I read this: (a) will methane provide another basis for resource-based conflict in an area with entirely too much resource-based conflict and (b) assuming an extraction process is identified that is safe and cost-effective, what mechanisms exist for encouraging accountability and transparency with regard to the income stream these contracts will generate? Or, will these projects devolve into financial boondoggles?
Rwanda needs more energy to do more business; careful development of these resources has the potential to further bolster the country's growing private sector.
- Karol
2 comments:
The Rwandan government could subsidize extraction of the natural gas and construction of a power plant, to provide free energy for its population and industry.This would increase the standard of living for average people promote industry,create jobs,foreign investment... With free energy this region would become the jewel of Africa. Another benefit of FREE energy would be that there would be no need to fight over the resources or transparancy on operation
I can't help noting that this natural gas lies in Lake Kivu, on the border of Rwanda and Congo, but it seems to be described solely as a Rwandan resource, to be extracted for Rwanda's benefit. I'm sure that, without a sea change in Euro-American/African relations. it will be extracted primarily for foreign benefit, but the identification of Rwanda, not Congo, as the beneficiary, is singular.
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