Country snapshot · Central Africa
Burundi
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
View as tableHide table
| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.6 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 0.6 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 2.7 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 12.2 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.1% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (12.2 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
View as tableHide table
| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 3.6% | 2024 |
| Urban | 70.0% | 2024 |
| National | 20.1% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2025 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N6
93.9% (2025 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN2,N7
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- AREEN
- Main utility
- REGIDESO; Weza Power (private distributor, interim agreement)
Export rulesNo national rule in force. Mission 300 compact commits to net billing (by Dec 2026) and a self-generation declaration ordinance (by Jun 2026).5,6High confidenceShow detail
No national net-metering rule in force. The compact commits to "net billing" within a revised tariff structure (due Dec 2026) and a self-generation declaration-regime ordinance (due Jun 2026). Delivery status as of Oct 2026 is unknown.
How exports are creditedNone found. A 2016 decree allows surplus purchase contracts for operators in isolated zones.7Medium confidenceShow detail
None found. The 2016 decree allows independent operators in isolated zones to sign a surplus purchase contract.
Size limits and licensingNone in force. Compact plans a simplified process for projects up to 1 MW.7Medium confidenceShow detail
None in force found. The compact plans a simplified process for projects ≤1 MW (due Dec 2025).
Mini-grid rulesNone in force. Compact plans a mini-grid decree, tariff methodology and licence model.7Medium confidenceShow detail
No dedicated regulation found in force. The compact plans a rural electrification/mini-grid decree (Dec 2025) and a tariff methodology and licence model (Jun 2026). AEP reports mini-grid quality standards exist.
Market access beyond the utility2024 amendment to the 2015 electricity law permits private participation in distribution.7High confidenceShow detail
Loi n°1/13 of 23 Apr 2015, amended by Loi n°1/05 of 22 Mar 2024. The revised law permits private participation in distribution. Transmission is not open to private parties except by derogation.
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail
None found
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
