Burundi: Gigawatt Global plans solar PV scheme

Developer Gigawatt Global has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Energy and Mines for a 7.5MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The company, which has an 8.5MW solar plant in neighbouring Rwanda, hopes the project will help fill the gap between supply and demand and reduce reliance on costly diesel. Burundi is set to receive power from the Ruzizi III and Ruzizi IV regional hydro schemes, but the 147MW Ruzizi III, from which Burundi will receive 49MW, is not expected to start up before 2020, with Ruzizi IV after that.