Lake Kivu power plant is a 56 MW gas power plant in Lake Kivu, Rwanda. It is operated by Symbion Power Lake Kivu Ltd. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 63k homes (estimated). It ranks #1 of 12 Rwanda power plants by installed capacity. In context, gas supplies about 26.5% of Rwanda's electricity; the national grid averages 354 gCO₂/kWh (49.6% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_lakekivu_rwanda.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000409062; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as Engine. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Rwanda gas capacity
- 68.3% of 82 MW across 2 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Rwanda
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Symbion Power Lake Kivu Ltd.
Climate zone & how it works
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 2.0°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with heat / UV the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #1 largest gas power plant of 2 in Rwanda by capacity.
Rwanda has 2 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 82 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- KivuWatt · Gas · 26 MW · Western Province
- Gisenyi · Waste · 3.8 MW · Western Province
- Nyabarongo I · Hydro · 28 MW · Southern Province
- Symbion Lake Kivu power station · Gas · 140 MW · DR Congo
- Mukungwa · Hydro · 12 MW · Northern Province
- Mukungwa II · Hydro · 2.5 MW · Northern Province
Location
Coordinates -2.028763, 29.290399 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Lake Kivu power plant?
Lake Kivu power plant is a 56 MW gas power plant in Lake Kivu, Rwanda.
Who operates Lake Kivu power plant?
Lake Kivu power plant is operated by Symbion Power Lake Kivu Ltd.