Acceleration of Weza Power Burundi Rural Electrification

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The project comprises an accelation of the power distribution network expansion in Burundi, connecting more than 40,000 new homes and businesses to the grid starting in 2025. The sponsor is Weza Power, part of Anzana Electric Group and former Virunga Power. The company received a loan of $5m and a technical assistance grant of $3.1.m for the electrification project by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. A PPP between the Government of Burundi and Weza Power’s parent company, Anzana Electric Group has been signed. This project includes final development activities related to Weza Power’s planned investment to expand and operate the national distribution network to serve up to 9 million Burundians in the next seven years. This effort is also supported by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, which provided a feasibility study grant to the sponsor, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Virunga Power was set up in 2011 to develop, invest, and operate clean energy plants and rural distribution grids. The company focuses on operating utility-scale projects across East and Southern Africa. In March 2023, Gridworks became the majority shareholder in Virunga Power following a $50 million investment. Gridworks is an investment vehicle of British International Investment, the UK government’s development finance institution. Virunga Power develops Weza Power as a public-private partnership (PPP) company and will provide the initial equity investment. Under a new interim agreement, the PPP will work together to mobilize an initial, two-year $60 million investment into the utility. This initial phase will target connecting 300,000 Burundians to electricity supply. https://www.ruralelec.org/key-announcements-made-at-the-burundi-renewable-energy-access-days/ ; https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-announces-31-million-grant-weza-power-expand-electricity-access-and ; https://www.ustda.gov/ustda-weza-power-to-expand-rural-electricity-access-in-burundi/ ; https://energy-utilities.com/burundi-gets-new-utility-company-through-ppp-news122270.html#google_vignette ; https://www.bbc.com/gahuza/articles/cd12nnyr41vo https://www.ruralelec.org/key-announcements-made-at-the-burundi-renewable-energy-access-days/ ; https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-announces-31-million-grant-weza-power-expand-electricity-access-and ; https://www.ustda.gov/ustda-weza-power-to-expand-rural-electricity-access-in-burundi/ ; https://energy-utilities.com/burundi-gets-new-utility-company-through-ppp-news122270.html#google_vignette ; https://www.bbc.com/gahuza/articles/cd12nnyr41vo