Power Africa partner breaks ground on 1GW solar programme in Burundi

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
 Michael Fichtenberg of Gigawatt Global greets Burundian dignitaries and the diplomatic community in a festive ground-breaking ceremony yesterday for the company's second African solar field. Source: PR Newswire

Gigawatt Global, a multinational renewable energy company and partner of Obama’s Power Africa initiative, has broken ground on its 1GW solar programme with the 7.5MW solar plant in Burundi.

The US$14 million facility was inaugurated on Thursday in Mubuga, just outside the Burundian capital of Bujumbura. The new plant will add 15% to the country’s electricity generation capacity. Power will be sold under a 25-year PPA to REGIDESO, the national electric company.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Construction and interconnection of the project to the country’s grid is expected to be completed in Q4 2017.

“Empowering economic and social development is at the heart of our green energy business,” said Michael Fichtenberg, vice president for finance and business development, Gigawatt Global. “This high impact development investment supported by leading international financial institutions signals that Burundi is open for development and business.”

This new plant will be the largest private international investment in energy to hit the East African country in almost 30 years. Gigawatt Global is an American-owned Dutch developer focusted in the development and management of utility-scale solar projects in developing countries.

It delivered its first utility-scale solar project with Power Africa in Rwanda in 2014.

The Burundi project was made possible by a grant from Finland’s Energy and Environment Partnership and the Belgian Investment Company for Developing countries (BIO). It was also financially supported by the African-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme (RECP).

“Gigawatt Global is expecting to deploy US$2 billion in renewable energy projects in Africa as partners of the White House Power Africa initiative in the coming years as renewables are taking the lead in power generation in Africa and emerging markets,” said CEO Josef Abramowitz. “We are targeting sub-Sahara Africa as a high impact and high growth market, with a portfolio of small, medium and large power projects in the highest priority development areas.”

Read Next

July 8, 2025
The Chinese government has moved to curb excessive competition in the PV sector and stabilise pricing as companies report growing losses.
July 8, 2025
Donald Trump has issued an executive order to tighten restrictions on renewable energy tax credits just days after signing his “One, Big Beautiful Bill” act into law, which significantly cut federal support for renewables.
July 8, 2025
SJVN Green Energy has commenced commercial operations of 100.02MW from its 1,000MW solar power project in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Premium
July 8, 2025
In the latest NEM data spotlight, solar generation in Australia reached its yearly lowest month, while rooftop solar prices spiked to AU$225.57/MWh.
July 7, 2025
GameChange Solar has announced plans to supply trackers for the 1GW second phase of the Abydos project in Egypt.
July 4, 2025
Australian retailer AGL Energy has confirmed its acquisition of South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK