Lukuga Barrage Project | DRC | Tanzania | Proposed

Technical, financial and moral support is been sought by governments of Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are calling upon the international community and friends of the Lake Tanganyika to extend support for the USD 65 million Lukuga Barrage project.

The call was made by the Water minister Prof Jumanne Maghembe and his DRC counterpart, Bruno Kapandji Kalala who leads the ministry of Water and Electricity in his country.

The two ministers met recently in Dodoma to discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest on water management of Lake Tanganyika.

The meeting was attended also by senior official from both governments.
According to a joint statement released by the two, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss and establish an agreed framework for possible and immediate implementation of priority interventions of the presidents of the respective countries on the urgent construction of the Lukuga Barrage as well as the dredging of the Lake.

River Lukuga is the only outlet from the lake and discharge its water into River Congo.

According to their statement, there have been adverse impact of the declining levels of the Lake water that have mostly affected the water supply schemes for Kigoma/Ujiji township and Kigoma port (Tanzania) and Kalemie, Uvira and Moba ports (DRC).

“Interventions to cope with such impacts require bilateral and regional cooperative action among the Lake Tanganyika Riparian States,” the statement reads.

According to the ministers, implementation of Lukuga barrage project is an important milestone towards addressing the problem of declining levels of the Lake.

“We took into consideration the challenge of declining levels of the Lake and how the adverse effects of this phenomena affect the social – economic growth and development of our two sister countries as well as water resources management of the Lake,” the statement reads.

“We are committed to ensure proper management and sustainability of Lake Tanganyika resources for the benefit of present and future generations,” the ministers said in a statement.

The meeting agreed to undertake Lake Tanganyika water initiative which will focus on bilateral and regional issues; to collaborate on water resources data collection and monitoring systems and to have technical exchange study visits.
Also agreed were for Tanzania and DRC governments to consider the training of water experts in water resources training Institutes.

The two parties also agreed to deepen studies of environmental and socio economic impact assessment of the project.

Lake Tanganyika is shared by four countries namely, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and Zambia.

In terms of ownership, Burundi owns 8 percent, DRC (45 per cent), Tanzania (41 percent); and Zambia (6 per cent). Tanzania and DRC jointly own 86 per cent of the Lake.

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The First Ministerial Meeting of Ministers responsible for water resources from the United Republic of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) met in Dodoma, Tanzania to step up efforts to curbing Lake Tanganyika Challenges. The meeting was jointly opened by Hon. Prof. Jumanne A. Maghembe, Minister for Water of the United Republic of Tanzania and Hon. Bruno Kapandji Kalala, Minister for Water and Electricity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) both accompanied by their respective senior officials. “Tanzania and DRC have a huge responsibility to address the challenges as they account for 41 and 45 percent respectively in terms of ownership of the lake. "We have to make sure we jointly find a lasting solution for the future of our countries”, said the Prof. Jumanne Maghembe. He added that both should recognize that the two sister countries have a shared heritage and common interest in the Lake Tanganyika and its Basin, we are committed to ensure proper management and sustainability of its resources for the benefit present and future generations added Prof. Maghembe. The Ministers hailed the importance of convening the meeting noting that its outcome will provide an elaborate joint systematic framework of engagement to protect the Lake Tanganyika Basin. “It’s my very first time to visit Tanzania and I am here to discuss matter pertaining Lake Tanganyika on how to protect it and make sure it is well managed”, said Minister for Water and Electricity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bruno Kapandji Kalala. purpose of the meeting was to discuss and establish an agreed framework for possible and immediate implementation of priority interventions as observed by the Heads of State, H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United of Tanzania and his H.E. Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the urgency to construct Lukuga Barrage as well as dredging of Lake Tanganyika in an efforts to curb the challenge of declining levels of the Lake. Prof. Jumanne A. Maghembe, Minister for Water of the United Republic of Tanzania and Hon. Bruno Kapandji Kalala, Minister for Water and Electricity of the DRC signing treaty on initiatives to curb the challenge of declining levels of the Lake Tanganyika.

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BUTEMBO21 said:

Lukuga is 100% Congolese Ricer by Kalemie....so what does Tanzania has to do with it ? The electricity wouldn't even make it to Tanzania.


This leadership never fail to amaze me with the level of backwardness. So retarded.

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La Lukuga est une rivière émissaire du lac Tanganyika, parcourant près de 350 km. Son débit est d'environ 271 m³⋅/s. Elle se jette dans le Lualaba. Avant 1878, les eaux de la Lukuga s’écoulaient dans le lac Tanganyika.

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