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The project which is being funded by the AfDB has seen the installation of a 13.8kWp solar farm in the Nyankanda refugee camp.
- The EU has committed to continue the project and provide refugee camps with clean energy.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has equipped the Nyankanda camp in eastern Burundi with solar energy. The camp is powered by a solar farm comprising forty-six 300W solar panels for the cumulative power production of 13.8kWp. This solar farm will provide power for the Camp’s administrative offices, library, community and health centres. The energy will also provide a better educational environment and provide household energy.
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This is part of a 2018 project by the Burundi government to support the supply of energy for cooking and environmental restoration in refugee camps. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided financing (about $1.3 billion) through the Transition Support Facility (TSF).
The funding provided by AfDB has also enabled the installation of 270 solar street lamps in all refugee camps across the country. In addition to this, 2,500 solar lamps were distributed to secondary school students in the Nyankanda camp. The AfDB stated that “this has created significant educational benefits, mainly through improved school performance and an increase in exam pass rates over the past two years.”
Due to the project’s successes, the European Union has stated that it will commit €2.1 million to continue the programme to ensure that refugee camps in Burundi are provided with renewable energy.