Kaboni is working with the Energy Ministry of the Government of Burundi (MINHEM) to implement a rural electrification programme in the Eastern Provinces. We have completed the pilot in Giharo, Rutana province and have started implementing the phase 1 scale-up to connect the whole town. The pilot uses 14.4 kWp of solar PV with 27 kWh of Cegasa LFP batteries and SMA inverters. We are using the pilot to learn and estimate system sizes for the next 4 phases of the programme. We are also refining our Community Energy Cooperative (CEC) model, through which we will build, own, operate and then transfer systems to the communities they serve, over 15 years.
Our business model has several key innovations that, when combined as a holistic approach, result in a completely new implementation and operating model. We are building a regional, vertically integrated, small utility operating as a renewable energy services company. We conduct rapid surveys and size systems using our own metrics and experience, connect everyone in the network area so nobody is left out, and oversize systems to future proof them. All our customers receive basic household electricity fittings.
Phase 1 procurement has started and the completed system for Giharo will initially be 70kWp solar PV with 169kWh of LFP batteries. This will supply electricity to around 775 households, business and public buildings. We will introduce E-bikes, designed specifically to carry people and cargo in Africa, this year and are developing an avocado oil processing plant proposal so that we can introduce a new industrial and revenue business. We have been allocated 44 more sites by MINHEM and are currently surveying these.
We are working withGET-Invest
and actively seeking equity and debt partners for the scale-up. We have advised on, developed and delivered energy and development projects in Cameroon, Croatia, Dubai, Greece, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and are now focusing only 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 innovative, well tested and constantly improving implementation solutions that mean electricity access will be affordable, reliable and delivered for less than the substitution cost.
We work with communities and financial institutions to catalyse development and secure funding for new productive use businesses and development opportunities.
Please contact:Phillip Stovold for more information.