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solving the power supply issue of Rwanda to a large extent.
But again, this very lake poses a big threat to 2 million people
living around the Lake Kivu basin with Mount Nyiragongo
being just around 20 km north of it.
For those of us not aware of Mount Nyiragongo, it is an active
volcano with an elevation of 3,470 metres (11,382 feet) in
the Virunga Mountains. It has erupted at least thirty-four
times since 1882, with the latest eruption being as recent as
2002, in which 147 people lost their lives and 4,00,000 people
had to be evacuated. The hot, molten lava erupting from it
destroyed 15% of the town in the neighbouring Democratic
Republic of Congo, comprising 4,500 buildings including the
Goma International Airport, before it eventually flowed
down to Lake Kivu.
That triggered a fair amount of fear and anxiety among
many people who thought that the mixing of the lava and
the various gases present in Lake Kivu could create a
catastrophic reaction leading to a wide explosion of poisonous
gases endangering the lives of millions.
Fortunately, nothing like that happened, but researchers and
scientists still do feel that with an enormous volume of
various gases present in the lake, it does pose a potential
threat along with vast available opportunities.
Only time will tell whether this great lake will be transformed
into a huge pool of energy for the people of Rwanda and its
neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or turn into
a major threat to its surroundings.
Till then, I keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best for
this beautiful ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ – Rwanda.
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