Burundi Inaugurates Jiji Hydroelectric Power Plant

Burundi has inaugurated the Jiji hydroelectric power plant in the country’s Bururi province. The plant is the first of two hydroelectric power plants set to come online this year with a combined installed capacity of 49.5 MW and annual capacity of 235 GWh. The second plant, Mulembwe, is set to come online later this year.

The projects were developed at a cost of $320 million, with support from financial institutions the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank as well as the European Union. The two plants will provide electricity to roughly 15,000 households, 7,000 businesses and 1,700 manufacturing facilities across the country.

“Our financing for this project formed part of the European Union’s strategy to develop clean, sustainable infrastructure in Africa and is also aligned with decarbonization efforts needed by companies to grow,” stated Edward Claessen, Head of EIB Regional Hub for East Africa.