Power outages in Burundi;

Burundi a country in East Africa has 38 megawatts of electricity for nine million inhabitants,
a situation that has led to frequent power outages and complaints from every corner of the
country about the distribution of the electricity supply.

A load shedding system causes electricity to be deliberately shut down in different parts of
the region at various. Small scale businesses seem to be the worst affected by these rolling
blackouts.

REGEDISO which is the Burundian company charged with the responsibility of distributing
water and electricity says that the insufficient power supply is caused by the absence of
rain.As a result of this lack of electricity, most Burundians use candles to light inside their
homes. However, these candles also create problems, because they often cause fires.

Fig 1. Lower dam levels in Burundi: Source the web.

Thanks to the World Banks involvement, there is hope for small scale traders. Under the
Burundi Multisectoral Water and Electricity Infrastructure Project, the World Banks
investments are focused on the rehabilitation of the infrastructure of the main electricity grid,
as well as financial support for optimal use of existing thermal electricity generation capacity,
combined with energy demand management strategies.

Supply and Demand Gap and the Electricity Crisis of 2009

Burundi has been experiencing a severe electricity crisis since 2009, which has led to large
scale and systematic load shedding, with serious effects on the economic recovery of a post-
conflict country.

The rapid increase in the supply deficit is as a result of a combination of several factors; the
lack of investment in the countrys hydroelectric power plants and lack of electricity
production over the past 15 years, the rapid increase in electricity demand around the capital
Bujumbura with the return to peace, low rainfall over the past three years, the degradation of
the catchment area upstream from the main hydroelectric power plants due to deforestation
and increased land use during the conflict years, major technical and commercial losses on
the electricity grid and the lack of financial resources to operate the existing thermal power
plant.

The government is in talks with India, Israel, Norway and China to develop its power
industry and triple consumption with 13 years. It is anticipated that demand in the country by
2030 will have increased to 700 MW, which means some additional 650 MW will have to be
added by then. Burundis hydroelectric potential is estimated to be about 1,200 MW.

Solutions from Investors.

There are feasibility studies for renewable hydroelectric power plants. This has prepared the
government to request financing from investors. About ten sites capable of producing
between five and 30 megawatts each have already been identified, they are: Jiji and
Mulembwe dams, which are going to produce 50 megawatts,

The construction of the dams could be to co-financed between the government, World bank
and Private Investors The production of hydropower provides a credible low-cost alternative,
which allows for an increase in a share of the projected supply.

There are other investment opportunities which include; The expansion of the Bujumbura
thermal power plant, as well as the rehabilitation of the hydroelectric power plants and the
electricity transmission and distribution grid. Solar power projects which could produce upto
100 MW The purchase of pre-payment meters, as well as fuel for the thermal power plant and
management of the project, could also be priority.

Figure 2: Solar power project in Burundi; Source the web.

Burundi is a country in East Africa faced with acute power supply shortage. It has
been almost impossible to find as the country had a severe civil war thus no
immediate solutions therefore relying on weather prone hydro power , expensive
thermal energy and imports from the neighbours. This can be address through
ODA, Public Private Partnership, Donor Funding and Private investors.