Petroleum reserves discovered in lake Kivu: what’s next?
The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB) has announced that research has identified 13 potential petroleum sites within Lake Kivu. The focus now shifts to determining the exact quantity and extraction feasibility.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 15, during a meeting between the Ministry of Environment and the Parliamentary Committee on Governance, Gender Equality, and Equal Opportunity, RMB Director General Francis Kamanzi shared the findings.
“The good news is that we have petroleum. Thirteen wells in Lake Kivu have been identified as containing petroleum. What we don’t yet know is the quantity, but the locations are confirmed,” Kamanzi stated.
He explained that a second round of studies would be conducted to establish the petroleum’s volume and quality, as well as the cost implications of extraction.
Preliminary findings suggest that the petroleum reserves in Lake Kivu may be larger than those found in neighboring countries.
Kamanzi emphasized that while the discovery is promising, extensive research is still required to determine whether extraction would be economically viable.
“Yes, it’s there, but we are still in the exploration phase. We need to understand its type and quantity before initiating extraction,” he concluded.