WASAC: Rubavu Waste Treatment Project Tender Reissued After Contractor Termination

• WASAC Development Ltd is seeking a new contractor for the Rwf4.1 billion Rubavu faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill project after terminating the previous contract due to poor performance.
• The project, part of the African Development Bank-financed Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, aims to treat human waste and dispose of solid waste, with an expected completion time of 16 months.
• Prospective bidders must attend a mandatory site visit on September 30, with bids requiring a $20,000 security and due by October 27.
• Only 6.4 percent of the Rwf1.1 billion allocated for the project in 2025/26 was spent before the previous contract's termination on May 8, 2026, prompting a new Rwf542.9 million allocation for 2026/27.
• This retender reflects a broader pattern of contractor performance issues affecting waste management projects across Rwanda, including similar initiatives in Musanze, Karongi, Rusizi, and Kigali.

The re-tender for the Rubavu faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill project presents a significant opportunity for qualified construction and waste management firms to contribute to Rwanda's critical infrastructure development.

WASAC Development Ltd has initiated a new procurement process to secure a contractor for the construction of a vital faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill in Rubavu Town. This decision follows the termination of the previous contract, which was canceled on May 8, 2026, due to documented poor performance by the initial contractor. The project, an integral component of the Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (RSWSSP), is financially supported by the African Development Bank, with the Rwandan government utilizing a portion of this funding to establish facilities in Rubavu designed to process human waste, specifically faecal sludge, and ensure the safe disposal of solid waste in designated landfill areas.

The original Rwf4.1 billion Rubavu faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill project had encountered significant delays, primarily attributed to the contractor's inadequate performance. An inspection by the Auditor General revealed that only 6.4 percent of the Rwf1.1 billion allocated for the project in the 2025/26 fiscal year had been expended before the contract's termination. To facilitate the resumption of works, an additional Rwf542.9 million has been earmarked in the 2026/27 fiscal year, signaling a renewed commitment to advancing this critical infrastructure development.

The current WASAC Rubavu waste treatment project tender outlines specific requirements and a clear timeline for prospective bidders. The construction phase is projected to span 16 calendar months from the contract award. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the project's demands, all interested parties are mandated to participate in a site visit scheduled for September 30, allowing them to assess the project location and its surroundings firsthand. An optional online pre-bid meeting will also be held on October 2 to address any questions regarding the scope of work and the tender documents.

Bids for the Rubavu faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill project must be submitted to WASAC Development Ltd by October 27 and must include a bid security of $20,000, or its equivalent in a freely convertible currency, presented as a bank guarantee. The planned faecal sludge treatment plant is designed to process 45.7 cubic metres per day, while the accompanying landfill will manage 35.9 tonnes of non-organic solid waste daily. Furthermore, the project encompasses the development of a composting facility for organic waste, which will also produce organic fertilizer, alongside dedicated storage areas for sorted plastics, glass, and metals intended for recycling.

The retendering of the Rubavu project is part of a broader national effort to enhance waste management infrastructure across Rwanda, often facing similar challenges. For instance, the Musanze faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill, estimated at Rwf4.55 billion, is being developed on a 6.8-hectare site in Gacaca Sector. This facility, led by China Geo-Engineering Corporation, will handle both faecal sludge (7,000 cubic metres per day) and solid waste (33 tonnes daily) from households, addressing a particular need in Musanze District where rocky terrain makes traditional pit latrines difficult to construct, leading to widespread use of quickly-filling raised latrines. The Musanze project received Rwf1.79 billion in the 2026/27 budget.

Beyond Rubavu and Musanze, significant investments are also being made in other regions. The combined budget for faecal sludge treatment plants and landfills in Karongi and Rusizi stands at Rwf4.74 billion, with the Rusizi plant alone accounting for Rwf2.3 billion. The capital, Kigali, has also experienced setbacks in its sanitation projects; Phase I of the Kigali Centralised Sewerage System, allocated Rwf3.5 billion in 2025/26, saw only Rwf819 million spent before its contract was terminated in May 2026 due to poor contractor performance, prompting WASAC to prepare for a new procurement process there as well.

This presents a new public procurement opportunity for construction and waste management firms in Rwanda, requiring careful review of tender documents, bid security, and adherence to deadlines for the Rubavu faecal sludge treatment plant and landfill project. Lawyers advising potential bidders should note the mandatory site visit and pre-bid meeting dates.

Source: Original reporting via The New Times