Burundi signed on Thursday, 15 October in Bujumbura, a 25-year concession with Weza Power to extend and operate the electricity distribution network in around half the country. The partnership is to mobilise 1.4 billion dollars and connect more than 1.2 million households and businesses, Anzana Electric Group, the parent company of the operator, announced the following day.

The programme provides for the construction or rehabilitation of 52,000 kilometres of lines. It aims to provide first-time access or improve the electricity supply for around 8 million people by 2030, according to Gridworks, an investor in Anzana.

State-owned utility Regideso will retain distribution in the other half of the territory and will continue to supply electricity via the national transmission grid, according to Anzana. Weza Power will take on investment and operation of the distribution network in its area.

The planned financing combines private capital and concessional resources. Anzana cites in particular the institutions of the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank and the US development finance agency among the partners in the arrangement.

Gridworks presents the project as a way to raise grid electrification in Burundi from around 15% to more than 50% by 2030. The investor had committed 50 million dollars to Anzana in April 2023 to support the company's development.

Road between Gitega and Bujumbura, 25 March 2007. Archive photo illustrating shops and power lines, unrelated to Weza Power's works. Dave Proffer / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP.