KivuWatt is the only one of its kind in the world. Lake Kivu has been known as the “killer lake” due to huge amounts of biogas trapped under a layer of heavy water containing minerals washed out of the nearby volcanos. When the gas concentration gets too high, or the lake is hit by one of the regular earthquakes in the region, the gas can be released, posing a threat to the people living in the vicinity.

By tapping these gas resources, ContourGlobal is making Lake Kivu a safer place, while at the same time utilizing the trapped methane gas for much needed power generation. KivuWatt’s gas extraction facility, moored 13 km from Lake Kivu’s Kibuye shore line, sits on a barge anchored 13 km off-shore.

In addition to gas extraction and power generation, ContourGlobal is also engaging with the local population, training and developing local workers and funding charitable projects such as providing a library and computers at Kibuye schools.