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Burundi : the new Jiji power plant, a historic leap towards sustainable energy

SOS Médias Burundi

Bururi, June 29, 2025 — The President of the Republic of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, officially inaugurated the Jiji hydroelectric power plant on the river of the same name in Songa district, Bururi province (southern Burundi) on Tuesday. This event marks the official acceptance of the facility after several years of construction.

The Jiji power plant is part of a large energy project supported by a consortium of donors, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the European Union. In a joint press release, these partners announced that a second power plant, built on the Murembwe River, will be inaugurated in the coming months. Together, the two facilities are expected to generate a capacity of 49.7 megawatts.

During his speech, President Ndayishimiye praised the contribution of international partners and highlighted the country’s progress in the energy sector. « Burundi has just reached an important milestone, with its capacity now reaching 118 megawatts, compared to 47.5 megawatts in 2020 when I took office, » he declared.

A dynamic energy development

The Head of State also highlighted other achievements in the sector, including the inauguration of the Vugizo, Buhiga, and Mubuga solar power plants, also financed by the same partners. He mentioned the continuation of new projects, notably the planned dams on the Kirasa River in Rumonge Province and the Ruzizi III Dam, a regional project shared with Rwanda and the DRC.

An energy partnership with Ethiopia is also under negotiation, with a view to strengthening the national electricity supply.

An expected improvement for the population

Building on these advances, the President called on REGIDESO, the state-owned electricity distribution company, to accelerate electricity access projects and rehabilitate aging infrastructure. He also invited citizens to gather in villages to facilitate access to drinking water and electricity.

Impacts on digitalization and mining

According to Ndayishimiye, the commissioning of the Jiji power plant represents a key step in Burundi’s digital development. « This new capacity will help relaunch projects to digitalize public services, which have long been hampered by the energy deficit, » he stated.

He also discussed a revival of the mining sector, arguing that the energy shortage had previously limited the efficient exploitation of the country’s mineral resources. A call for trust from partners

In conclusion, the President addressed a message to the international community : « We ask you to continue to trust the government of Burundi. You are witnesses to peace, social cohesion, and good governance in our country. »

This call comes in a unique context, a few weeks after the legislative and district elections of June 5, validated on June 20 by the Constitutional Court. The CNDD-FDD, the ruling party, won all the seats in the National Assembly. The opposition’s appeals were rejected by the Court.

However, several critics, including the Catholic Church, have denounced serious electoral irregularities : ballot stuffing, pressure on voters, public voting, expulsions of representatives, and counting without observers.

Despite these accusations, President Ndayishimiye asserts that Burundi is on the right track. « If we call on you tomorrow, don’t think we want to waste your time, » he concluded.