Rwanda Denies Reports of Imminent Methane Gas Explosion in Lake Kivu

By The Inspirer.

The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has refuted claims that methane gas in Lake Kivu could explode due to its increasing levels.

In January 2024, National Geographic published an article titled “An African Lake Could Explode, Putting Millions at Risk.” The article featured Philipp Morkel, the founder of Hydragas Energy, a company that harnesses energy from water. Morkel likened Lake Kivu to a pot of water being heated to over 60% of its boiling point.

Eric Mudakikwa, the head of REMA’s department responsible for research and conservation of Lake Kivu, stated that there is no evidence of a significant increase in gas levels in the lake that would pose an explosion risk.

In an interview with The New Times, Mudakikwa said, “The gas levels in Lake Kivu are not rising drastically because the country has been actively extracting it as a preventive measure against possible explosions.”

The National Geographic article suggested that extracting gas from the lake for energy purposes could destabilize it, potentially leading to a rapid explosion. However, Mudakikwa dismissed this notion, emphasizing that the extraction process is carried out cautiously.

“It is not true that gas extraction would cause Lake Kivu to explode. The extraction is done without disrupting the lake’s structure,” he explained.

REMA further clarified that since 2018, the Rwandan government has been monitoring Lake Kivu daily, with stations in place to detect seismic activity, primarily from the nearby Mount Nyiragongo volcano.

In May 2021, Mount Nyiragongo erupted unexpectedly, causing earthquakes that damaged various structures in western Rwanda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the time, there were rumors that lava from Nyiragongo could enter Lake Kivu and trigger a massive explosion, endangering the lives of those living nearby.

Mudakikwa confirmed that Rwanda continues to work closely with the DRC to monitor seismic activities and the behavior of Mount Nyiragongo to mitigate any potential risks to the population.

“There is no imminent threat because we are collaborating with the DRC, closely monitoring issues related to seismic activity and the Nyiragongo eruption,” he said.

Lake Kivu covers an area of 2,700 square kilometers and borders several Rwandan districts, including Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke, and Rusizi.

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