The Burundi government has studied the bill to ratify a €70 million (about $95 million) loan agreement signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB). Signed in 2014, the agreement will help finance the development of the Jiji and Murembwe hydropower projects.

Situated in the Southern part of Burundi, on the Eponymous Rivers, the two plants will add an additional 50 MW to the country’s electric capacity. The World Bank has provided $100 million for the implementation of the projects which cost $270 million. The European Union granted the nation $36.6 million for the project, while the African Development Bank did $22 million. Burundi will itself inject $18.8 million.

Developing these infrastructures will help more than double the national electric capacity, knowingly about 40 MW. The country will also be able to improve its electrification rate which is currently of 10%.

Gwladys Johnson