Kaboni is working with the Energy Minsitry of the Government of Burundi to implement a major rural electrification programme in the Eastern Provinces. We have completed the procurement stage for our pilot in Giharo, Rutana province and have started implementing the distribution network (this means digging holes and planting poles). The pilot will use 14.4 kWp of solar PV with 27 kWh of Cegasa LFP batteries and SMA inverters. We will use the pilot to establish tariff metrics and estimate system sizes for the first 4 phases of the programme. We are are building under our community energy cooperative (CEC) plan and will build, own, operate and then transfer the system to the community after it has been paid for.
Our networks and systems will incorporate innovative network, system and storage and generation technology being planned for use in Europe and be developed as a vertically integrated small utility operating as a renewable energy services company. We are experts in this field and are also working with external experts and suppliers to provide state-of-the-art, low cost, 24/7/365, automated demand and supply managed, renewable electricity via smart networks.
We will build out in four phases after completing the pilot. We need the government of Burundi to approve import duty exemptions for the equipment we need to import before we will start on the scale-up which is our phase one and the implementation of a full community mini-grid in Giharo (another 500-600 connections). We are working withGET-Invest and Genervest on funding and will soon be actively seeking equity and debt partners for the scale-up in 2023. Our combined experience gives us strong development links across Africa and Europe. The Kaboni team have advised on, developed and delivered energy projects in Cameroon, Dubai, Greece, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and are now focusing on Burundi.
Electrification rates in Burundi are amongst the lowest in the World at around 11%, with 49% of the urban and only 1% of the rural population connected to electricity. Working with the communities and government, we use our own well tested and constantly improving implementation solutions that mean electricity access will be less than a substation cost, affordable and reliable. We work with communities and local financial institutions to catalyse development opportunities. Currently seeking funding partners, please contact Phillip Stovold, Simon Redman or Jean-Marie Nibizi for more information.