REPP-backed solar project of 7.5 MW ready for construction in Burundi

The 7.5-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Burundi is about to go under construction, its co-financier, the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), informed on Thursday.

The project was developed by Gigawatt Global Cooperatief UA, an American-owned Dutch independent power producer (IPP), in a public-private partnership with the Burundi government.

UK government-funded REPP has been championing the project since December 2016 when it provided development capital. It has also pledged to provide a construction bridge loan, part of which will be refinanced as a ten-year subordinated loan.

Africa-focused energy infrastructure investor Inspired Evolution Investment Management, through its Evolution II Fund, will provide a matching construction loan and equity investment.

Burundi’s new solar park will be built in Mubuga, in Gitega province, and create 300 part-time jobs during the construction stage.

Once it starts generating electricity, the facility's output will be purchased by Burundi's state-owned utility Regie de Production et Distribution d'Eau et d'Electricite (Regideso), which will be able to supply power to around 87,600 people and businesses.

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