The gas generated by rotting vegetation rises sporadically killing fishermen causing what has been called the killer lake phenomenon.

Rwanda has for some time sought to commercialize the gas rising off the floor of  Lake Kivu on its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It has two companies  trapping the gas and using it to power electricity plants.

The latest deal, signed a week ago, will capture and bottle the methane.

This will be sold to local residents and used instead of charcoal for cooking.

The company called Gasmeth Energy is owned by Rwandan, Nigerian and United States businessmen.

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