(3 Minutes Read)
Everything is in short supply from fuel to sugar, forcing the people to live in abject poverty. What hits harder is the shortage of electricity, which is a perennial problem, slowing economic recovery. Power outages occur daily, often for more than two hours at a time. It is so acute that even many government offices struggle to meet electricity demand.
Burundi, the impoverished East African nation is limping back to a sort of order. In the process, Burundi may become eligible for international assistance for its development process, although a return to complete normalcy may take time. Landlocked Burundi faces many economic and social woes to come out of its present state, adjudged by the UN as one of the poorest countries in the world.
Everything is in short supply from fuel to sugar, forcing the people to live in abject poverty. What hits harder is the shortage of electricity, which is a perennial problem, slowing economic recovery. Power outages occur daily, often for more than two hours at a time. It is so acute that even many government offices struggle to meet electricity demand.
There is an apparent silver lining. Current President Evariste Ndayishimiye has vowed reforms, and slowly, partners like the European Union and the United States have eased sanctions. That is helping the country to ease the impact of sanctions. In January, the World Bank announced a new grant of up to USD 40 million to help the government avert acute commodity shortages. The project focuses on improving the credibility of Burundi’s financial system.
Burundi closed its border with Rwanda, accusing its neighbour of backing rebels, which Rwanda denied. Burundian authorities have said the border closure is not responsible for the widespread commodity shortages as most trade comes in via Congo. Congo has been affected by recent internal disturbances. Burundi has few exports and is heavily reliant on donor support, making its international relations key.
Burundi’s installed electrical capacity stands at about 115 megawatts, and less than 15% of the country’s 12 million people are connected to the national grid, according to official figures. The country’s 10-year development plan until 2027 says 400 megawatts are needed to meet industrialization goals. Government authorities blame the power outages on obsolete equipment that dates to the 1960s.
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A new hydroelectric power plant under construction in the northwestern province of Cibitoke would add 20 megawatts to the national grid. Two more hydroelectric power plants under construction would add a total of 76 megawatts to the grid when they are commissioned later this year.
