What you should know about Burundi's $100M Soleil-Nyakiriza project
Briefing Issue
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Dear Readers,
This Wednesday, the Members of Parliament analyzed the bill relating to the agreement of grant between the Republic of Burundi and the World Bank on the financing of the project “Soleil-Nyakiriza”, a solar energy initiative for rural communities in Burundi.
The Solar Energy in Local Communities (SOLEIL) or “Nyakiriza” in Kirundi (“enlighten me”) will almost double the rate of electricity access in the country by expanding access to rural families, local enterprises, schools and health centers in some of the poorest areas of the country, thereby improving the livelihood and well-being of people.
According to the Burundi Minister of Energy who was the Guest of the parliament, the $100M grant aligns with the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and will help to resolve the energy deficit, one of the challenges described among the main obstacles to economic growth.
After analysis and this bill has been adopted unanimously by 99 MPs.
More about the Soleil-Nyakiriza Project
In March 2020, the Board of Directors of the World Bank approved the financing of the Soleil-Nyakiriza Project for a value of 100 million dollars which will electrify schools and health centers in rural areas of Burundi," said the Bank representative in Burundi.
The Soleil Nyakiriza project will allow more than 91,000 families, 4,000 small businesses, 500 schools and 400 dispensaries to be connected to electricity by mini-grids or autonomous solar installations.
Soleil-NYAKIRIZA project will revolve around four components:
(1) Energy services for health and education institutions
(2) Mini-grids for communities
(3) Autonomous solar systems and efficient improved stoves for households
(4) Technical assistance and capacity building.
According to experts who drafted the project, tasks planned in the second and third components of the project are susceptible to have a negative social impact especially those that are relative to the acquisition of plots of land, the restriction to use them, and forced resettlement.
In order to cope with these impacts, the government of Burundi is preparing the resettlement policy framework (RPF) that will be completed by the Resettlement action plan (RAP). Soleil-Nyakiriza project will be executed in all provinces of the country, mainly in rural zones.
Despite its hydroelectric potential, Burundi faces a serious deficit in electrical energy. Its electrical barriers, the last of which dates back to 1986, are in a state of dilapidation. The production of electrical energy hovers around 70 MW while the REGIDESO (Régie de production et de commercialisation de l’eau et de l’électricité ), a state company needs at least 120 MW per day.
Soleil-Nyakirizaproject will provide about 17 MW of renewable generation capacity. In addition, the project will provide training on women's employment and female entrepreneurship and strengthen regulations and policies to attract private sector participation in the provision of off-grid energy services.
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Fabrice Iranzi
Founder & Editor in Chief, RegionWeek.com
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