The Government of Burundi signed a 25-year public-private partnership agreement with Weza Power on 15 October to expand national electricity infrastructure. This project aims to increase national electricity access from approximately 15% to more than 50% by 2030. President of Burundi Évariste Ndayishimiye stated, "Electricity is the foundation of Burundi’s economic transformation and a key pillar of our Vision 2040-2060 ambitions." Babacar Sedikh Faye, World Bank Group Country Manager for Burundi, added, "Mobilizing private capital is essential to creating jobs and expanding opportunities for Burundian families and communities to improve their livelihoods." The agreement establishes a long-term framework for the collaboration between state authorities and the private sector to meet these national energy targets.
Scope of Infrastructure Expansion
Engineers plan to install 52,000 kilometres of new and upgraded distribution lines across the country as part of the initiative. This infrastructure development covers both new installations and the modernization of existing segments to support a more reliable energy grid. The project aims to connect more than 1.2 million new households and businesses to the national electricity network. By expanding the reach of these distribution lines, authorities intend to provide power to residential areas and commercial enterprises that currently lack consistent energy access. These efforts form the operational core of the agreement between the government and Weza Power. The deployment of these lines and connections will occur in stages to meet the national targets for energy distribution by 2030.
Economic Impact and Employment
The initiative targets providing first-time or improved electricity access to an estimated eight million people across Burundi. By expanding the reach of the national power grid, the project aims to support these residential and commercial populations with more consistent energy supply.
Implementation of the infrastructure development is expected to create over 2,000 direct installation and operational jobs. Beyond these primary positions, the partnership between the government and Weza Power anticipates generating more than 30,000 indirect employment opportunities. These roles will support the broader economic development associated with the distribution line expansion and the integration of new households and businesses into the national electricity network. The project phases will manage the rollout of these labor requirements as the energy infrastructure grows.
Current Capacity and Vision
Burundi currently maintains an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 183 megawatts. Hassan Kibeya, Minister of Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism, noted the necessity of expanding the delivery of this energy. "With Burundi’s installed generation capacity at approximately 183 MW, our focus must now be on ensuring that existing and future generation can be delivered to more homes, businesses and productive sectors across the country," Kibeya stated.
This partnership also aligns with the broader objectives of the Mission 300 initiative. The program seeks to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by 2030. By integrating the national network with these regional goals, the government intends to bridge the gap between current generation levels and the requirements of the population. The agreement facilitates the distribution of existing and future power, aiming to transition from the current 183 megawatt capacity to a more expansive, reliable supply that reaches households and commercial enterprises currently lacking access.