Persistent electricity cuts in Burundi are severely impacting small businesses, with one welder in Rubirizi, Tenga, reporting significant losses due to the outages. Bosco, a welder, stated he had spent more than two weeks without work, describing the situation as "terrible" for his family. He explained that clients for three orders totaling over 15 million BIF had canceled, forcing him to lose business to competitors while still needing to pay rent and feed his family. The prolonged lack of power has made it nearly impossible for him to fulfill his commitments, leading to considerable financial strain.
Bosco emphasized the critical need for daytime electricity for his work, noting, "« Or, nous en avons besoin la journée pour travailler. Le soir, on rentre à la maison. »" He noted that his welding operations are inherently tied to daylight hours and consistent power supply. Dr. Diomède Ninteretse characterized the ongoing power cuts as paradoxical, given official assurances of increased electricity production from projects like the Jiji Murembwe and Busumo dams. Despite these challenges, Jean-Albert Manigomba has assured the public that power cuts are expected to cease with the onset of the rainy season, attributing the current issues to low water levels in dams.
Economic Fallout for Businesses
The economic impact of the power outages is profoundly felt by individual business owners across various sectors. Bosco, a welder in Rubirizi, estimated his losses in millions of Burundian Francs (BIF), a substantial sum for a small enterprise. He stated, "« J’avais trois commandes de plus de 15 millions BIF. Les clients se sont désistés. Ils sont partis ailleurs. Or, je dois payer le loyer, rationner ma famille, etc. »" These three orders, totaling over 15 million BIF, were canceled by clients due to the disruption, forcing Bosco to lose business to competitors who could provide services despite the power challenges. He emphasized the critical need for daytime electricity for his work, noting, "« Or, nous en avons besoin la journée pour travailler. Le soir, on rentre à la maison. »" During the reported two-week period, electricity was only available from approximately 7 PM to 7 AM, a schedule utterly insufficient for the daytime operations of businesses like his, which require power during standard working hours. This limited availability forces a drastic reduction in productivity and income.
I.K. Who operates a carpentry workshop, reported a significant reduction in his working hours because of the persistent electricity cuts. He stated that he was working barely two hours a day, severely limiting his production capacity and ability to meet customer demands. I.K. Further explained that electricity is typically provided around 6 PM, which allows for only one or two hours of work before he needs to close his workshop for the day, making it impossible to complete larger projects. He also estimated his losses in millions of BIF, indicating the widespread financial strain on small enterprises. The restricted power availability forces businesses to curtail operations, leading to lost revenue and increased overheads as fixed costs like rent remain, even as output plummets. This situation creates a vicious cycle where reduced income makes it harder to cover essential expenses.
Daily Life and Food Security Hit
The impact of persistent electricity cuts extends beyond businesses to daily life and food security, particularly affecting perishable goods. Anitha, a milk seller in Kinama, Muramvya neighborhood, reported having to discard several liters of milk in less than two weeks due to the lack of refrigeration. "The quantity became unconsumable because of the lack of electricity. The fridge does not work," Anitha stated, noting the direct consequence on her livelihood and product viability. Her experience is a stark reminder of how essential consistent power is for maintaining hygiene and preventing spoilage in the food chain.
Similarly, a butcher in downtown Bujumbura explained that the absence of electricity prevents the use of cold rooms essential for preserving meat. This situation has led to a complete halt in selling fish and other fast-deteriorating meats, impacting product availability for consumers and causing significant financial losses for the butcher. The reliance on consistent power for refrigeration is critical for maintaining food safety and preventing spoilage in the supply chain, and its absence creates a ripple effect on both vendors and consumers. The inability to store perishable items safely not only affects business profitability but also raises public health concerns.
O.B. A manager at a restaurant in Mukaza commune, confirmed that customers have complained about the inability to order certain dishes, particularly fish, due to spoilage risks. O.B. Stated, "There are some who were used to ordering fish, for example. We no longer prepare this dish because it risks being spoiled and causing intoxication." This concern shows the broader public health implications of unreliable power, as businesses avoid offering items that could pose a health risk if not properly stored, thereby limiting consumer choice and impacting the restaurant's menu offerings. The fear of foodborne illness due to inadequate refrigeration forces businesses to make difficult decisions, further impacting their revenue and customer satisfaction.
Expert and Official Perspectives
Dr. Diomède Ninteretse, an economist, stated that citizens require electricity in their homes and workshops, not merely information about produced megawatts (MW). He emphasized this need, remarking, "« Car, le citoyen burundais n’a pas besoin d’être informé des MW produits mais, il a besoin de l’électricité dans son compteur, dans sa maison, dans son atelier, etc. »" This notes a disconnect between official reports of production capacity and the tangible reality faced by ordinary Burundians. Jean-Albert Manigomba, Director General of Regideso, attributed the reduced electricity distribution to a significant drop in water levels in dams during the dry season. He explained that the current situation is a direct consequence of climatic conditions affecting hydroelectric power generation. However, Dr. Ninteretse characterized the situation as "« C’est paradoxal. »" He argued that Regideso should be transparent, stating, "« Elle devrait être honnête. Tant que le pays dispose d’une capacité de production supplémentaire, aujourd’hui il ne devrait pas se poser un problème de distribution. C’est parce qu’il y a souvent de la corruption dans l’installation des fils électriques. »" He suggested that underlying issues beyond climate, such as corruption in infrastructure development, might be contributing to the distribution problems.
According to Dr. Ninteretse, companies can lose more than 10% of their turnover due to persistent electricity cuts, a figure that represents a substantial blow to their financial stability and growth prospects. He described the necessity for businesses to use generators as an 'invisible tax on productivity', a hidden cost that significantly erodes profits. He elaborated on the burden, saying, "« Un pays sans énergie n’avance pas. Les entreprises sont souvent obligées de recourir aux services de substitution. Ces salons de coiffure, ces imprimeries, …, ils sont obligés de recourir aux groupes électrogènes tandis que d’autres recourent aux batteries ou à une autre source d’énergie. »" He noted the additional expenditure, noting, "« Imaginez-vous une entreprise qui doit acheter du carburant pour produire son propre courant. C’est une dépense supplémentaire. Mais, contrairement à un impôt classique, cette charge n’est pas nécessairement visible dans le budget. L’OBR ne va pas la prendre en compte pour vous taxer. »" This "invisible tax" places an unrecorded but heavy financial burden on businesses, making it harder for them to thrive and contribute to the economy.
Dr. Ninteretse suggested that Regideso should acknowledge management errors and infrastructure problems in transport and distribution, rather than solely blaming environmental factors. He added that the Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR) would not account for other losses incurred by businesses, stating, "« L’OBR ne va pas non plus comptabiliser les produits périmés ou détruits, les commandes non exécutées, les clients perdus, l’entretien supplémentaire des équipements, les investissements dans les groupes électrogènes, les batteries, etc. »" These unquantified losses further compound the difficulties faced by businesses, as they are not recognized in official economic metrics. He further recommended that the National Assembly objectively evaluate the costs invested in energy production versus the actual energy distributed to the public, urging for greater accountability and transparency in the energy sector to ensure that investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens and businesses.