The Joint Implementation Unit (JIU); a body composed of three representatives from three contracting states (Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda), four Ruzizi III Energy Limited (REL) Staff, and three EGL (Energies des Glands Lacs) Staff under the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project, held its first meeting in Rusizi District from 19 to 22 April 2022. The meeting aimed at discussing the progress of land and property acquisition process under the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project. The JIU also undertook the project area field visit both in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to ensure that they clearly understand the topographical composition of the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project area.

The JIU has been established in line with the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project implementation convention, clause 4.3 (e) (ii) signed by the three states. It provides oversight on the land and property acquisition process and advises the states on the way forward. During its first meeting, the JIU interacted with different stakeholders in the project area including the local leaders in both DRC and Rwanda as well as the members of the resettlement committees representing the Project Affected People (PAP) from both countries.

In a consultative meeting with the local leaders and the members of resettlement committees in Rwanda, Mr. Kwitonda Philippe, the Director-General of Land, Water, and Forestry in the Ministry of Environment, and the Rwandan representative sitting as the current President of the JIU, commended the current good affinity between the project and its PAPs.  
“This consultative meeting is an important milestone in the ongoing land and property acquisition process under the Ruzizi III Hydropower Project. If this phase is not well executed, it negatively also impacts the subsequent phases of the project. We would like to encourage everyone to freely discuss how the land and property acquisition process has been carried out, the challenges, and what would be your expectations and suggestions to ensure this phase becomes a success,” said Kwitonda noted at the beginning of the consultative meeting with Resettlement committee members in Rwanda.

A similar consultative meeting also took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Present in this meeting were local leaders from both Groupement Kamanyola and Karhongo as well as the members of the resettlement committee from both Groupement.
Mr. Jina Bachunguye, the President of the Coordination Committee of the PAPs from both Groupement Karongo and Kamanyola told the JIU members that the PAPs have been satisfied by the land and property valuation process. He further noted that they have been associated during the market survey carried out in the Project area by REL through the company hired to carry out the land and property valuation.
“The market survey was concerning the price of everything in the project area. We have been associated throughout both the land and property valuation process as well as the market survey. However, when it comes to counting the prices for the production per square meter, we have not been involved,” Jina added.
In line with Jina’s concern, it has been clarified that the calculation of prices vs the production per square has been tallied using the prices put in place by the Ministry of Agriculture in DRC.

In Rwanda, the members of resettlement committees requested to be informed of the date when the compensation will be provided because they have been waiting for a long time without clarification of the exact date. It has been clarified that the exact date for the compensation will be announced after having the approval of the land and property valuation report by the Government. They have been requested to be patient to ensure all necessary steps of the land and property valuation process are respected to make sure everything is legitimately accomplished.

Apart from the consultative sessions with different stakeholders, the members of JIU visited the project area to ensure they understand its topographical composition. Visited were different parts of the Project Area including the hydropower facilities, campsite, powerhouse on the Rwanda side, and the switchyard as well as the dispatching site on the DRC Side. The JIU members also got a panoramic view of the project area from a viewpoint on the hilltop in the Nzahaha sector.