Rwanda announced on Wednesday that it had discovered oil for the first time, confirming the existence of 13 reservoirs in Lake Kivu, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to local media group Igihe, Francis Kamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, stated during a parliamentary hearing, “The positive news is that we have oil.”
Kamanzi indicated that 13 exploratory wells in Lake Kivu have verified the presence of oil.
He expressed “confidence” in discovering additional reserves, referencing the significant amounts found in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda has conducted tests and exploratory drilling in Lake Kivu for over a decade. Despite the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, Rwanda and DRC have maintained discussions regarding exploration.
The armed forces supported by Rwanda, known as the March 23 Movement (M23), have captured large areas of land and mining operations in DRC, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.
