A tide of plastic waste flowing into a major hydroelectric dam in eastern Congo is causing regular power cuts in several major cities, creating a challenge that local authorities are trying to solve. The Ruzizi dam located at the south end of Lake Kivu, which borders Rwanda, supplies the city of Bukavu and others with electricity and the power outages are hurting local businesses.
The problem is linked to the growing use of plastics coupled with a lack of waste collection in the region. Heavy rainfall causes waste to flow down from the mountainous terrain to the lake, where it collects and blocks the machinery.
![Plastic Waste in Lake Tanganyika, [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From Willy Kizwera journalist at the Blue Community Radio Bonesha FM Burundi: Bujumbura: P](https://blue-community.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/3422c616-aea7-4dd5-83b7-8723d7008a5e-1-414x224.jpg "Plastic Waste in Lake Tanganyika 4")
