WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

1.1.1 Burundi
Lara Esser and Laxmi Aggarwal, International Center on
Small Hydro Power
Key facts
Population 10,557,259 1
Area 27,830 km 2
Climate Equatorial climate
Topography Hilly and mountainous terrain
Rain
Pattern
Average annual rainfall is about 1,500
mm; two wet seasons (February to May,
September to November), and two dry
seasons (June to August, December to
January) 1
Electricity sector overview
The electrification access in Burundi is 10 per cent which
can be considered low in comparison to other countries
in the East African Community (EAC). 2 The transmission
network includes: high voltage lines (70-110 kV) and
medium voltage lines (10-15 kV), whichall require
rehabilitation, 110 kV transmission lines are in good
condition and the 70 kV transmission lines are in an
acceptable condition. 2 3 The Régie de Production et
Distribution d’Eau et d’Électricité (REGIDESO) has sole
responsibility of the system. In 2010 the energy deficit
was about 15 MW. 3
In 2008, REGIDESO produced 87 per cent of the
domestic electricity, most of it was from hydropower.
REGIDESO has a total installed capacity of 35.8 MW, of
which 30.8 MW is hydropower and 5.5 MW thermal
capacity. 2 There are very few biogas and solar energy
installations in the country becauseover 70 per cent of
them are out of order either due to vandalism or lack of
maintenance. 4 Figure 1 shows the electricity mix of
Burundi.
Other sources
Hydropower
Imported electricity
5.2%
46.6%
48.2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Figure 1 Electricity generation Burundi
Source: African Development Bank 4
Note: Data from 2008.
The Government’s strategy for the power sector has
called for 20 per cent of its population to have access to
electricity by 2020. 4 Burundi generates hydropower
from its large hydropower plant Rwegura, with an
installed capacity of 18 MW. Additional capacity is
available for Burundi from two regional hydro plants: 3
MW from Ruzizi I which has an installed capacity of 29.8
MW and 13.3 MW from Ruzizi II with an installed
capacity of 43.8 MW. 2 5 These plants are shared
between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda
and Burundi. Ruzizi I is owned by Société Nationale
d’Electricité (SNEL), the national electricity company of
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ruzizi II is owned by
the Société International d'Électricité des Pays des
Grands Lacs (SINELAC), the intercommunity organization
of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. 6
Future plans show that import capacity of Burundi may
increase with the installations of Ruzizi III (estimated
capacity of 147 MW) and Ruzizi IV (estimated capacity of
287 MW). 2
Burundi’s electricity sector is expected to change with
the implementation of the East African Power Pool
(EAPP) plans for interconnectivity and a common market
within the EAPP countries, as has been achieved by
Europe. Most of the EAC countries have been connected
while Burundi waits for the high voltage line of 220 kV
from Kigoma-Butare-Ngozi-Gietga to be completed and
a link from the United Republic of Tanzania to Burundi
to be installed. 2
The country has already experienced changes in the
electricity sector with the aid of World Bank. The
payment system was altered to a prepayment system in
2011, resulting in 52 per cent of the clients paying in
advance. This will in turn aid REGIDESO to ensure secure
earnings, easier resource management and will
contribute in diminishing the financial risk faced by
REGIDESO. 2
In addition to the World Bank contributions, Burundi has
in 2011 established the Control and Regulation Agency
for the Water and Electricity Sectors under Decree No.
100/320. This entity is responsible to control, regulate
and monitor the sectors to ensure compliance with
contracts and clauses. The Burundian Agency for Rural
Electrification (ABER) was also implemented at the same
time under decree No. 100/318; however it is still under
establishment. ABER is to be responsible for
electrification projects including small-scale hydropower,
solar and wind projects.
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
Burundi is a landlocked nation; it is however, equipped
with vast river resources, namely the Malagarasi (475
km) and the Ruzizi (117 km). The hydropower capacity
of Burundi is 33.84 MW, not including the international
Ruzizi I and II plants. 2 Burundi has 15.84 MW of installed
small hydropower capacity if the definition of 10 MW is
applied (figure 2). Direction Dénérale de l'Hydraulique et
de l’Életrification (DGHER), now ABER, operates eight
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