Near the Akanyaru River marshland in the Gisagara district of southern Rwanda, an energy project called Hakan Peat to Power is operating in a hilly, green area. This site, close to the border with Burundi, includes metal structures and machinery that stand out against the natural landscape of the wetland. A number of excavators work near a large, prepared area to dig up layers of peat, a type of organic soil that holds a lot of water. This peat is then loaded onto trucks and taken to a drying facility where it is processed for use in energy production. The Hakan Peat to Power project was commissioned in 2021 and currently generates about 23 megawatts of electricity, though its maximum capacity is 80 megawatts. The project, which cost around 260 million USD, is part of Rwanda's broader effort to invest in renewable energy sources. Tonci Tadic, the plant manager, told Mongabay that the initiative helps strengthen the stability of the national power grid through its energy storage system. According to data from Rwanda's Ministry of Infrastructure, about 155 million tons of dry peat are spread over roughly 50,000 hectares. The Akanyaru marsh is particularly rich in peat, which is being used as a fuel source to generate electricity. Peat is a type of partially decomposed organic material that can be burned to produce energy, similar to coal but with different environmental impacts. The use of peat for energy production is a relatively new approach in Rwanda's renewable energy strategy. While it is considered a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, the long-term environmental effects of extracting peat from wetlands are still being studied. The Hakan Peat to Power project represents a step toward diversifying Rwanda's energy sources and reducing its reliance on imported fuels.