Burundi: New deal aims to increase electricity access to millions

A new privately owned and operated electricity distribution company is set to bring grid power to almost 70% of the population of Burundi.

The anoucement was made at the Arica Cimnate Summit in Nairobi this week.

Weza Power is the result of a multi-year development partnership between Virunga Power (a Gridworks investee company) and the Government of Burundi. Over a seven-year period Weza Power will aim to connect nine million people, said Gridworks.

This initial phase will result in approximately 300,000 Burundians gaining access to grid electricity, said Gridworks.

The project will then aim to raise around $1 .4 billion over seven years to build a network of distribution infrastructure that connects two-thirds of the East African country.

However, it will do this without the Government of Burundi needing to raise additional loans from its own balance sheet.