Weza Power Seals $1.4B National Electric Grid Deal in Burundi
On 15 October 2026, Weza Power — a subsidiary of UK Anzana Electric — and the Government of Burundi signed a Public-Private Partnership (#PPP) agreement to establish Africa’s first privately operated national-scale distribution grid. The upgrade of the electricity grid of Burundi will require an investment of about USD 1.4 billion.
The stated objective of the Agreement is to boost #ElectricityAccess from 12% to 70% by 2030. In other words, more than 8 million people in Burundi will be connected to the grid for the first time.
The Project has received financial support from DFI such as DFC and FMO; and MDB such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. The World Bank Group MIGA will provide the guarantees to derisk the project and crowd in private investment. In particular, MIGA is providing a USD 11 million guarantee against political risk by the Government of Burundi reneging on the contract. In addition, IDA is providing a concessional loan for the Project.
A special purpose vehicle called Weza Power has been incorporated in Burundi to deliver the Project. It is 100% owned by US firm Anzana Electric, which is in turn registered in the Mauritius jurisdiction. Gridworks is the controlling shareholder in Anzana Electric, and Gridworks is 100% owned by the British International Investment (BII).
Anzana Electric has another subsidiary, Songa Energy, that develops and operates hydropower projects in Burundi. In April 2025, Songa Energy commissioned the 1.65-MW Upper Ruvyironza Hydropower Plant. Currently, it is building another 9-MW Upper Mulembwe Hydropower Project that is scheduled for completion in 2027. Anzana is also considering solar farms in its drive to enhance electricity access.
With the combined efforts of Songa Energy on the generation side and Weza Power on the distribution side. The availability of clean and cheap electricity will spur the industrialization of Burundi, which is looking to process its #CriticalMinerals locally.
The Project is touted as a flagship component of Burundi’s Vision 2060 and under Mission 300 (#M300). It also qualifies for the World Bank’s Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) initiative.