What is the most common off-grid electricity source in Burundi?

Solar energy is the most common off-grid electricity source in Burundi, although the number of systems installed is very slow. With the global price droping of solar technologies a small solar sector emerged in the recent years, that offer smaller systems for private households, businesses and public institutions.

How has private energy consumption changed in Burundi?

It is only in the last five years that private consumption has grown in real terms. Burundi`s energy consumption relies to a great extent on biomass. Households are the main consumers of energy in the country, accounting for 94% of total consumption. Their needs are almost exclusively met by traditional biomass (99%).

How much does petroleum cost in Burundi?

All petroleum products (70 – 85 kilotons per year) have to be imported and transported over at least 1,400 km through neighboring countries before they reach Burundi. Consequently, petroleum is comparatively expensive and a high burden on the national budget. The market price for Diesel and Gasoline is around 1.20 US$ per liter.

How does Burundi benefit from electricity imports?

Burundi also benefits from imports from the regional hydro plants of Rusizi I and II, which are operated by Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), and SINELAC, respectively. Currently, these imports account for 40% of the electricity consumption.

Could peat cover Burundi's energy demand?

The annual production of peat during 2006 was only 4,871 tons, a quantity, which could even not satisfy the demands of the army which is the main peat consumer. However, potentially peat could cover a substantial share of Burundi’s energy demand for several years.

Does Burundi have a power supply deficit?

Burundi faces severe constraints in electricity supply. The supply deficit currently varies between 12.9 MW during the wet season and 23.5 MW during the dry season when the country’s main hydropower plants are running at reduced capacity. The deficit in the power supply leads to frequent outages.