- The AfDB will provide $28.9m for energy access in Burundi.
- Burundi will use part of the funds to rehabilitate distribution infrastructure.
- The AfDB estimates that the funds will enable 26,000 new electricity connections.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will provide a $28.9 million grant to Burundi to provide electricity to 40,000 households. In addition, part of the funds will finance the upgrade of distribution facilities to reduce distribution losses. Of the $ 28.9 million approved, $12.01 million is a loan from the African Development Fund (ADF), while the remaining $16.55 million is provided under the Transition Support Facility (TSF). The TSF is a $ 3.7 billion fund that supports AfDB regional member countries in peacebuilding, building resilient institutions, stabilising the economy and improving the lives of vulnerable populations.
The financing will support the implementation of the Burundi Energy Access Project. Daniel Ndoye, AfDB Country Manager in Burundi, noted that the “Bank’s support to the Burundi Energy Access Project is in line with the priorities defined in the Country Strategy Paper and the Burundi National Development Plan. In addition, it incorporates the lessons learned by the Bank in the implementation of six other on-going projects in the energy sector to obtain an optimal and sustainable investment for the country.”
The project’s first phase will be implemented in 36 localities in 11 provinces and aims to connect 40,000 Burundian households to the national electricity grid. In addition, the AfDB funding will enable 26,000 new connections to be made. As part of its objectives, the project will provide access to electricity to 450 businesses, 200 educational institutions, eight health centres, 40 markets and 150 places of worship. To reduce distribution losses, the project will also see the reinforcement of 60 overloaded transformer stations. The rehabilitation efforts are aimed at improving the reliability of the national electricity network. Burundi has one of the lowest electrification rates in the world. According to the World Bank, only 11.1 per cent of the population have electricity access.