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Lake Kivu: Explosive If Unexploited

Words Oroni Tendera

Lake Kivu is at risk of exploding from built up gases. The 18th largest lake in the world has dissolved gases composed majorly of 300 cubic kilometres of carbon dioxide and 60 cubic kilometres of methane, trapped below 260 metres depth. According to http://www.lake-kivu.org, these gases are dissolved ‘like in a bottle of coke.’

But what exactly would disturb the tranquility of lake Kivu?

cause an explosion on the surface. There are numerous ignition sources above and around the lake,” said Professor Robert Heck from the Large lakes Observation at the University of Minnesota to a BBC reporter.

Hallbwacks et al(2002-03-09) in Investigations in Lake Kivu (East Central Africa) after the Nyiragongo Eruption of January 2002: Specific study of the impact of the sub-water lava inflow on the lake stability argue that ‘sufficient volcanic interaction with the lake’s bottom water (that is rich in methane and carbondioxide) would heat water, force the methane out of water, spark a methane explosion, and trigger a heavy simultaneous release of carbon dioxide.’

This would be catastrophic to people living on the shores of Lake Kivu in eastern Congo and western Rwanda.

Scientists, nevertheless, hypothesize that extracting the gases from the depths of the lake decrease the impact if the lake does explode. The government of Rwanda has already established three methane extraction projects in Kibuye.

Methane deposits in the lake are estimated to produce about 700 MWe of electricity for 50 years. This will definitely make Rwanda a major exporter of power in the region.

Bonus

•Lake Kivu, Lake Nyos in Cameroon and lake Manoun also in Cameroon are the only three lakes in the world known to be saturated with carbondioxide.

•Lake Nyos experienced a limnic eruption on 21st August, 1986 that triggered the release of approximately 1.6 million tones of carbondioxide. 1700 people and 3500 livestock died of suffocation.

•Lake Monoun exploded on 15th August, 1984. 37 people died.

Top: People selling and buying bananas at the shores of Lake Kivu. Bottom: A fsiherman at the Lake