• Burundi triples electricity capacity in five years, reaching 166.29 MW in 2025.

• Jiji-Mulembwe hydropower complex aims to supply 15,000 households and 7,000 businesses.

• National access to electricity remains under 12%, highlighting persistent distribution challenges.

Burundi has achieved unprecedented growth in electricity production capacity over the past five years, yet it remains among the world’s least electrified nations. The stark gap between new generation capacity and actual household access was underscored on June 24, as President Évariste Ndayishimiye inaugurated the Jiji hydroelectric power plant, a flagship symbol of the country’s energy ambitions and ongoing struggles.

President Ndayishimiye noted that Burundi’s installed capacity has soared from 47.35 MW in 2020 to 166.29 MW in 2025, tripling within half a decade. The Jiji-Mulembwe hydropower complex alone will contribute 49.5 MW once both plants are operational—Jiji bringing 32.5 MW and Mulembwe 17 MW. However, authorities have not detailed how much of this capacity is already delivering electricity to consumers.

Financed with $320 million from a coalition of partners—including the African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank (EIB), World Bank, and European Union (EU)—the Jiji-Mulembwe project is expected to supply 15,000 households, 7,000 businesses, and 1,700 industrial sites, generating approximately 235 GWh annually.  “It represents a fundamental lever for improving access to energy for our populations, industrialization, job creation and economic growth,”emphasized Hawa Cisse Wagué, World Bank representative in Burundi.

Despite these impressive additions to capacity, Burundi’s electricity access rate stood at just 11.6% in 2023, according to the World Bank. This figure illustrates a critical disconnect: while production is increasing, much of the population remains disconnected from the grid, particularly in rural areas where electrification rates are even lower.

Alongside the commissioning of new hydropower facilities, Burundi is implementing sweeping structural reforms. The electricity law passed in 2024 establishes an independent regulator to boost transparency and draw in investors. Reviewed by World Bank experts, the legislation also promotes private sector involvement to extend electricity access, particularly in rural communities. To fully implement its electrification strategy, Burundi must secure close to $3 billion in investment.

This article was initially pblished in French by Abdoullah Diop

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum