Burundi - Energy Access Project - Phase 1

The Energy Access Project - Phase 1 is an investment project that is part of Burundi's priority investment operations. This project supplements and consolidates the outcomes of ongoing operations in Burundi’s energy sector. Despite Burundi’s relatively huge energy resources (hydropower, solar, wind), its electricity subsector has a low electricity access rate and significant electricity generation deficit due to low investment. The country’s electricity access rate is one of the lowest in the East African region. In 2019, the rate was 11% in Burundi compared to a regional average of 47%. The situation is even worse in rural areas, where the electricity access rate is almost zero (2% in 2019). However, over the past few years, Burundi, with the support of development partners including the Bank, has made considerable investments in electricity generation and transmission, as well as in interconnection networks, through several national and regional projects. This project covers 36 localities in 23 municipalities spread over 11 provinces of the country. It comprises: (i) the construction of 323 km of 30 kV medium voltage overhead line, 235 km of 0.4 kV low voltage network and the installation of 70 MV/LV substations, (ii) the reinforcement of 60 overloaded MV/LV substations and connection of 26,590 subscribers to the power network. The total project cost is estimated at UA 25.303 million, and the project will be implemented over 60 months (2022-2026).