Burundi signed a $1.4 billion public-private partnership with Anzana Electric on 17 October to expand the national electricity grid. The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs issued a statement confirming the agreement on the same day.
"American company Anzana Electric has signed a $1.4 billion public-private partnership with the Government of Burundi to transform the country’s electricity grid," the Bureau stated. Officials noted the potential for broader economic growth resulting from the infrastructure project. "A modern grid will open the door to a new wave of U.S. private-sector investment and strengthen U.S. supply chains, including in mining and agro-processing," the Bureau added. The project aims to improve power access across the country through the collaboration between the government and the private developer.
Ambitious National Electrification Goals
Government officials intend to utilize the $1.4 billion agreement with Anzana Electric to expand electricity access to a larger share of the population. The project seeks to raise the national electrification rate from the current 12 percent to 70 percent. This expansion of the electrical grid is scheduled to occur over several years. By building out this infrastructure, the partnership aims to provide power to regions that currently lack reliable connection to the national grid. The government and the private developer plan to coordinate these efforts to meet these specific coverage targets. Officials expect this rise in electrification to support the broader development of the country's energy capacity and infrastructure capabilities.
Strategic Partnership and Implementation
Weza Power operates as the primary electricity distribution company for this initiative, formed through a formal partnership between Anzana Electric and the government of Burundi. This entity serves as the vehicle for managing the infrastructure rollout defined under the $1.4 billion agreement.
The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs identified the agreement as the largest investment in Burundi’s history. Officials at the Bureau characterized the scale of the partnership with Anzana Electric as a milestone for the nation’s energy sector.
Parallel to this initiative, the World Bank launched a separate $190 million electrification programme in 2024. This existing programme targets the provision of electricity access to 2.4 million people, 1,200 public institutions, and 6,000 businesses. The World Bank programme functions independently of the new infrastructure project led by Weza Power.