The President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, officially inaugurated the Jiji hydroelectric power station, on 24 June, in the presence of numerous representatives of national authorities and development partners who co-financed the project, including the African Development Bank Group.
This major infrastructure, located in the southern province of Bururi, marks a decisive step forward in this East African country's quest for energy self-sufficiency. It also sends a strong signal in favor of an investment-friendly climate, for a more inclusive and sustainable economic development of Burundi.
"2025 marks a new era in Burundi's energy development. Just as water is essential to life, energy is crucial to development," President Ndayishimiye said at the inauguration ceremony. "I am convinced that this new source of available energy will enable new businesses to develop and transform production from different sectors."
Including the Mulembwe plant, which will be operational in the coming months, the two Burundian power plants will have a total installed capacity of 49.5 megawatts and an estimated annual output of 235 gigawatt-hours of clean energy. They will supply electricity to 15,000 households, 7,000 businesses and 1,700 industrial facilities. This new capacity will not only improve access to electricity for thousands of residents, but also boost productivity in key sectors such as health, education, agribusiness and ICT.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye on a guided tour of the power plant, with the reservoir visible in the background.
The Jiji hydropower plant is a component of the Jiji and Mulembwe Hydropower Project, including transmission lines and substations, the total cost of which is US $320 million. The African Development Bank provided $22 million in financing, the European Investment Bank $36.6 million, the World Bank $149.4 million, and the European Union $95 million. The Government of Burundi and the Société d'électricité du Burundi (REGIDESO) contributed $16.7 million.
"As a long-standing partner of Burundi, the African Development Bank is proud to have contributed to the realization of this structuring project, perfectly in line with its strategic priorities, the High 5. We are convinced that this emblematic infrastructure will broaden access to reliable and affordable energy, at the service of a sustainable and prosperous Burundi," emphasized Pascal Yembiline, the Bank Group's Country Manager for Burundi.
For Edward Claessen, Head of the EIB's Regional Hub for East Africa, "The fact that the Jiji and Mulembwe dams project is a renewable energy project, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, is particularly significant. Our funding for this project was part of the European Union's strategy to develop clean and sustainable infrastructure in Africa, and it is also aligned with decarbonization efforts, which businesses need to grow."
The World Bank's representative in Burundi, Hawa Cisse Wagué, emphasized that "the Jiji hydropower plant and the lines and substations built as part of the project are not infrastructures like any others. This infrastructure is like a solution for the economic and social development of Burundi. It represents a fundamental lever for improving access to energy for our populations, industrialization, job creation and economic growth."
According to Elisabetta Pietrobon, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Burundi, "Energy remains a cardinal priority in development and, consequently, in European Union cooperation. This is why the EU, its member states and institutions have supported this project from the outset, including the financing of the various design and construction phases, right through to the installation of infrastructure and equipment."
Burundi's development partners have unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to accompanying the country in its transformation efforts, along the path of its strategic vision: to become an emerging country by 2040 and a developed country by 2060.
Panoramic view of the Jiji Hydropower Plant in Bururi, Burundi.
Right from the construction phase, the project has created several hundred jobs, stimulating the local economy, while strengthening the technical capabilities of the surrounding communities.
Its commissioning marks the start of a new cycle of opportunities, both in the energy sector and in other strategic areas. Thanks to more reliable, accessible and affordable energy, small and medium-sized businesses will now have better conditions in which to develop, create jobs and make a lasting contribution to the country's economic growth. At the same time, the commissioning of the dam will help create a climate of confidence for Burundian and international investors.
