Burundi Adds 49.5 Megawatts to National Grid via Hydropower Expansion

The Jiji and Mulembwe plants now stand as cornerstones of Burundi’s energy infrastructure, producing an estimated 239 gigawatt-hours annually. This capacity increase targets a specific demographic of 7,000 businesses, 1,700 industrial facilities, and 15,000 households. Government officials anticipate that the influx of reliable power will catalyze mining development and support future railway infrastructure, shifting the country toward energy self-sufficiency.

International stakeholders, including the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the World Bank, provided the financial backing for the project. African Development Bank Country Manager Mouna Diawara noted that the initiative effectively doubles the national generation capacity. Beyond immediate electrification, the plants align with the Mission 300 regional goal to connect 300 million Africans to power by 2030, while simultaneously fulfilling Burundi's National Energy Compact.