United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a feasibility study grant to Burundi-based Weza Power SURL (Weza Power) to help develop a rural electric utility with the capacity to connect nine million people to the national grid.

Director, USTDA, Enoh Ebong, in a statement, said that the project will have a transformative impact on rural communities across Burundi, providing access to reliable electricity for students, families, and business owners.

He added that USTDA’s partnership with Weza Power is a critical component of the United States government’s effort to meet Burundi’s power sector goals.

Access to electricity in Burundi is less than two per cent for rural communities and 11 per cent nationally; full implementation of the project is expected to increase access to 70% and 76%, respectively. The USTDA-funded study will help lay the groundwork for the creation of the utility and recommend pathways for unlocking additional financing and deploying innovative United States-made technologies and services.

By adding an American commercial nexus to the project, USTDA’s work will complement development assistance provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Development Finance Corporation, and American government-led Power Africa initiative.

Founder and CEO of Ananza Electric Group, the parent company of Weza Power, Brian Kelly, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with USTDA on detailed technical studies for Weza Power. USTDA’s support combined with the technical and operational planning expertise of NRECA International will be instrumental in our mission of developing, building, and operating a sustainable, reliable and affordable power grid to serve rural Burundians.”

United States Ambassador to Burundi, Lisa Peterson, said, “These agreements, and the cooperative efforts to provide electricity to all Burundians, represents another United States investment in the future of this country. With an expanded national grid, and increased power supplies, electricity will reach the rural communities. Every single Burundian will someday benefit from the impact of these projects.”