• Installations provide up to 17 hours daily, covering most energy needs
• Move targets healthcare gaps amid low national electricity access

Several hospitals and social centers in Burundi have been equipped with five solar power systems to ensure a reliable electricity supply, Aptech Africa said in a statement on Thursday.

The beneficiaries include the SWAA Burundi screening center, the Association Nationale de Soutien aux Séropositifs et Malades du Sida (ANSS) in Bujumbura, Rumonge Hospital and the NGO Nouvelle Espérance.

Each site was equipped with photovoltaic panels and batteries, with capacities ranging from 20 to 65 kilowatts peak (kWp) for generation and 45 to 140 kilowatt-hours for storage. The systems are expected to provide 16–17 hours of power per day, covering 50–90% of each facility’s energy needs, the company said. It did not disclose the project’s funding sources.

Electricity access in Burundi: a health challenge

“When electricity is unavailable, the quality of care is directly affected,” health sector analysts cited by the company said, highlighting the importance of reliable power for medical procedures, laboratory testing and vaccine storage.

Nearly one billion people in low- and middle-income countries rely on health facilities without dependable electricity, according to the World Health Organization. In sub-Saharan Africa, around 15% of health facilities have no grid connection, with wide gaps between urban and rural areas.

Against this backdrop, solar systems with battery storage offer a practical solution to improve continuity of care in Burundi, where nearly 74% of the population lacks access to electricity, according to the Burundi National Energy Compact.

Abdoullah Diop