The Burundi minister of infrastructure Dieudonné Dukundane presented to the Senate a bill ratifying additional financing agreement for the Jiji, and Mulembwe hydroelectric project by Burundi on Tuesday 10th April in Bujumbura.
According to the Infrastructure minister, the additional financing is estimated at $102 million of which $50 million will be disbursed by the World Bank, $25 million will be supported by the European Investment Bank, $25 million by the European Union, while the remaining $2 million will be granted by Regideso a public sector company charged with the production and distribution of water and electricity.
“The overall amount for the execution of the Jiji and Mulembwe project amounts to $372 it is also part of the interconnection between countries, the lines having the role of regional interconnection will be dimensioned in 2020 Kv instead of 110KV,” said Dieudonné Dukundane.
“The design of operating stations has moved from 110/30 KV transformers to 220/110/30 KV transformers in order to meet the needs of the population in energy and comply with regional requirements which are very beneficial for Burundi,” said the Burundi minister of infrastructure Dieudonné Dukundane.
The bill which was presented to the senate last Tuesday was passed by the House unanimously.
According to the African Development Bank, the Jiji and Mulembwe Hydropower Plants Development Project aims to improve Burundi’s electric power generation. With the combined installed capacity of the two plants, estimated at 48 MW, the national installed power generation capacity (which is now 39 MW) will more than double.
The project concerns the development of two hydropower plants and the construction of infrastructure required for electric power transmission and distribution. These two development initiatives are located in the south-east of the country in Bururi Province.
The two hydropower plants are about 3.75 km apart and are currently the most promising energy projects in this part of the country. The project will have a positive impact on the sustainability of the energy sector in particular, and Burundi’s economy in general. It will also enable the supply of electricity to local communities in the project area.
As such, it will contribute to reducing the country’s energy shortfall and promoting green and inclusive growth. The project is structured into 3 (three) components: Component A comprises the Hydropower Plants and Related Infrastructure, Component B focuses on project technical assistance and Component C deals with electricity sector institutional development support.
The project was approved in June 23rd, 2014 and it is expected to be completed in December 31st, 2025.