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Lake Kivu Monitoring

Lake Kivu covers a total surface area of 2730 km 2 with a volume of 560 km 3  and lies at an elevation of 1463 m above sea level. This Lake is a shared resource between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) whose bed sits upon a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, causing volcanic activity in the area, and making it particularly deep: its maximum depth of 485 m is ranked nineteenth in the world.

Surface area

2730 km 2

Volume

560 km3

Altitude

1463 m above sea level

Key Information

Location

East African Rift Valley

Lake Kivu Age

~ 1 to 5 million years old

Maximum depth

485 m

Riparian countries

Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Rwanda

Uniqueness

More methane than any other lake

About Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu covers a total surface area of 2730 km 2 with a volume of 560 km 3  and lies at an elevation of 1463 m above sea level. This Lake is a shared resource between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) whose bed sits upon a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, causing volcanic activity in the area, and making it particularly deep: its maximum depth of 485 m is ranked nineteenth in the world.

A significant part (700km 2 ) of its watershed is located between the Lake and the volcanoes and is not drained by any rivers. The remaining 4,400 km 2 is drained by more than 100 small rivers. Lake Kivu empties solely in Rusizi River that flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. The lake is surrounded by majestic mountains. It lies within the boundaries of Virunga National Park with settlements on its shore including important cities like: Bukavu, Kabare, Kalehe, Sake and Goma in DRC and Rubavu, Karongi and Rusizi in Rwanda.

Lake Kivu, unique worldwide, is a freshwater Lake rich in dissolved methane and carbon dioxide gases in its deep waters with hot spring on the surface in some points. It is a meromictic Lake whose water never mixes due to difference in density of different layers and thus, preventing outburst of deep dissolved gases. On the other hand, gases from deep, recharge and accumulate in the deep layers of the Lake. Therefore, methane gas exploitation helps to reduce the risk of gas and it generates significant amount of energy, to the socio-economic benefit the population. Also, fisheries and fishing in Lake Kivu have gained substantial economic and nutritional importance for the lakeside human population.

Lake Kivu is at the same time, a source of energy, a development driving and a beauty that fascinates local people, investors, explorers, and scientists.

Description and Facts

Lake Kivu Monitoring

Both natural processes and human activities, including the methane exploitation, lead to changes in Lake Kivu. Such changes could potentially increase the risk of a gas eruption, they could deteriorate the water quality and lake ecological integrity, or they could negatively affect the methane exploitation. The lake monitoring aims at detecting such changes as early as possible before they develop into larger problems. The lake management and methane exploitation strategy can then be adapted to either avert a negative development, or at least to reduce its negative
impacts.

Created in 2008 with the operationalization of KPI (Kibuye Power One) pilot plant, Lake Kivu Monitoring Programme (LKMP) was a special entity within “Energy Development Corporation Limited” of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG). In 2021 Lake Kivu monitoring activities were transferred in Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) after the government decision under the Official Gazette n° 32 bis of 19/10/2020 that compose the Division of Environment Analytics and Lake Kivu Monitoring. LKMP has been mandated to monitor the impact of methane gas extraction on the Lake by protecting the Lake’s stability, its environment and by ensuring that the socio-economic benefit to the population is maximized. The concession for Methane Gas extraction today has been granted to different companies mainly for electricity production and other uses. Companies are Kivuwatt, Shema Power Lake Kivu Ltd, Gasmeth, Magma Energies Ltd. Currently, only Kivuwatt is operational with 26 MW electricity production since 2015 other operators are expected to start soon.

For that, Lake Kivu monitoring activity under REMA ensures that methane gas operators comply with the Managements Prescriptions for Development of Lake Kivu Gas Resources (MPs), which is a set of prescriptions developed by a group of international experts on Lake Kivu for the sustainable and environmentally friendly Methane gas extraction.

Environment analytics and Lake Kivu monitoring (EA&LKM) division collaborate on regular basis with international, region and local research institutions to promote research on Lake Kivu by developing a strong and effective research network on Lake Kivu.

Objectives of Lake monitoring

  1. To ensure public safety through monitoring of the lake’s stability
  2. To protect and preserve the lake’s environment, by avoiding any industrial and anthropogenic negative impact on the
  3. ecology of the lake
  4. To maximize socio economic benefits.

Formation

Lake Kivu is an ancient rift lake. Around 12 000 years B.P., lavas flow from the Virunga volcanoes dammed its former outflow to the Nile. By 9 500 years B.P., Lake Kivu had become a deep lake with an overflow via the Ruzizi River to Lake Tanganyika. The lake became strongly stratified about 5 000 years B.P. when volcanism and hydrothermal activities began.

Biology of Lake Kivu

Only 31 fishes species live in Lake Kivu. The Tanganika sardine (Isambaza) was introduced in the 1960s, to fill the empty pelagic zone. The Isambaza sustain traditional fisheries and is an important source of protein for the local population. The food web of Lake Kivu is simple: phytoplankton are eaten by zooplankton, which are fed by Isambaza fish.

Lake Kivu Hydrology

Catchment area: 5097 km 2 (excluding the Lake), relatively small compared to the Lake surface.
5 Basins around Idjwi Island: Main Basin, Kalehe Basin, Ishungu Basin, Bukavu Bay and Kabuno Bay.
Rivers: ~200 small inflowing rivers, but no surface water in the volcanic region of Goma Internal sub-aquatic springs:  in the north, at different depths mainly at 180 and 250 m. Annual Lake level fluctuations: 0.17 to 1.17 m

Structure of Lake Kivu

The water column is characterized by increasing temperature, salinity, and gas concentrations with depth and by several sharp gradients resulting from subaquatic springs. The annual deep mixing occurs during the dry season (June to September). The mixing depth varies annually but is limited to a maximum depth of 70 m. Below this oxygenated zone, the different layers are homogenous and stable. Lake Kivu is therefore permanently stratified.

Gases in Lake Kivu

Carbon dioxide: ~300 km 3 STP, 80% of the gases volume, only 20% of the total gas pressure. Methane: ~60 km 3 STP, 20% of the gases volume, but 80% of the total gas pressure.

These gases are dissolved and trapped below 260 m depth, where they accumulated over ~800 years. This unusual accumulation can be explained by the lake’s permanent stratification and the input of carbon dioxide from the surrounding volcanoes. CO 2 has a magmatic origin. CH 4 is generated biologically by the reduction of magmatic CO 2 (~65%) and the mineralization of organic carbon (~35%).

Latest updates

Ubutaka bwo ku nkombe z’ibiyaga n’imigezi ni umutungo rusange wa Leta, ntawemerewe kubukoresha atabiherwe uruhushya na Ministeri y’Ibidukikije

Minisiteri y’ibidukikije n’Ikigo cy’Igihugu cyo Kubungabunga Ibidukikije (REMA) bari gukora ubukangurambaga bugamije kwibutsa Abaturarwanda bose ko…

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Lakeshores and Riverbanks are public property, their use can only be authorized by the Minister in charge of Environment

The Ministry of Environment and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) are conducting a campaign aiming at reminding Rwandan residents…

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Documents

Inventories of Kivu Lake Islands Biodiversity In Support To Their Inclusion

Inventories of biodiversity on Lake Kivu Islands

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