Burundi is on the brink of a historic transformation: delivering electricity to nine million people who currently live without power. Backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Anzana Electric Group, the country officially launched its National Energy Pact during the Mission 300 Private Sector Consultation in London. At the heart of the announcement is Weza Power, a newly established private electricity distribution company. With an initial grant of $600,000, it aims to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy to rural and peri-urban communities that have been disconnected for generations.
The impact of this project goes far beyond simply turning on the lights. Electricity in homes enables children to study in better conditions, health centers to operate at night, small businesses to thrive, and women to access basic services that improve their quality of life. Operated by Anzana Electric Group with the support of Gridworks and British International Investment, Weza Power is the first national private electricity distributor in Burundi — and one of the few in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its mission is clear: to bring energy where it is most needed, prioritizing communities long forgotten by development.
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The grant comes from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the AfDB, which promotes inclusive electrification models. This funding will accelerate grid deployment, support social and environmental studies, and ensure that beneficiary communities are actively engaged in the process. “We want to see homes lit up, hospitals operating normally, and children gaining access to the future they deserve,” said Brian Kelly, CEO of Anzana Electric Group.
Burundi’s Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Uwizeye, hailed the project as a strong step toward energy equity. “This partnership with the private sector will not only expand electricity access but also improve the lives of millions of Burundians who have long been left out of progress,” he stated. The Weza Power model, based on a public-private partnership, is now emerging as a blueprint for the rest of Africa.
With this step, Burundi aligns itself with Mission 300 — an ambitious initiative by the World Bank and the AfDB to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. But in Burundi, this is more than a regional goal; it is a national urgency: to light up the future of millions and, in doing so, transform the country from the ground up.
