The execution of the Jiji and Mulembwe Hydroelectric Project is experiencing delays given the deadlines that were planned. From the construction of two power plants Jiji and Mulembwe, transmission lines and transmission stations, donors are putting pressure on construction companies to redouble their efforts to make up for lost time if possible
The Jiji-Mulembwe mega hydroelectric project will cost a total of 270.40 million USD.
In the company of the Minister of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines, the main donors, namely: the delegation of the European Union (EU), the World Bank (WB), the African Development Bank (ADB) of the gigantic Jiji and Mulembwe Hydroelectric Project (PHJIMU) carried out from January 19 to 20, 2023 a high-level raid on all the sites that involve the project. These are the construction sites of two Jiji and Mulembwe power plants, the base camp for the Nyakararo transmission lines and the two Kabezi transformer stations and the RN1 dispatching station.
The construction of two hydroelectric power stations on the Jiji and Mulembwe rivers is ensured by the Grouping of Companies CMC and ORASCOM respectively Italian and Egyptian, the transmission lines by the Indian company KEC International and associated stations, the French company VINCI. The observation is the same for each of the companies: the work is late.
Jiji hydropower plant could be commissioned in May 2024
The observation is that the work is falling behind schedule. At the Jiji dam, the desilting is already finished. The work in progress concerns the construction of the dam itself, the dam wall (allowing to make the reservoir) as well as the digging of the tunnel which will drain the water towards the house of the dam. On the Mulembwe dam, work is not at all advanced.
However, the construction consortium for the two dams estimates that the commissioning of the first power plant (Jiji) is scheduled for May 2024, while the deadline provided for in the contracts for the execution of this project is December 2023. But here too , during the visit some technicians did not believe a word of it, given the remaining work that remains to be done.
Supply difficulties causing delays
The CMC and ORASCOM Group of Companies involved in the construction of the two dams cite several reasons for the delays. These include, among other things, the fuel shortage that occurred during the year 2022, climatic hazards, landslides. The construction area of the two dams is very difficult to pass through during rainy periods.
At the energy dispatching center on the RN1, the CEO of Regideso was not satisfied with the progress of the work.
In addition, Ibrahim Uwizeye, Minister in charge of Energy adds that Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have negatively impacted the progress of the work. Much of the material used would come from Ukraine. This has caused the prices of materials to increase exponentially. And to take advantage of this opportunity to ask the main donors to grant additional funding for the completion of the project. The managers of these companies plan the commissioning of the first plant (Jiji) in May 2024, while the deadline provided for in the contracts for the execution of this project is December 2023. Minister Uwizeye asked the construction companies to redouble our efforts to make up for lost time if possible.
Where are we with the construction of the transmission lines?
On Friday, January 20, 2023, the visit continued to the living quarters of KEC International, which is responsible for the construction of electricity transmission lines that will come from Jiji-Mulembwe. On this basis, the company claims that the material for the foundation of the pylons and cables is available. However, the company is also experiencing delays. She puts forward as reasons the problem of freeing the rights of way and the technical problems related to the roads of axes. For technical reasons, there are times when it is necessary to change the axis routes as released in the contracts.
The government of Burundi asks that the main roads be respected as they are in the contracts. The DG of Regideso says that the changes in the roads of axes would involve the upheaval of the compensations. The engineers of the delegation asked that the consulting engineer, which is the Canadian company AECOM, follow this question closely so that the work progresses.
As for the release of the rights-of-way, the PHJIMU coordinator indicates that 50% of the compensation has been paid, but that KEC has not yet traveled the entire distance released.
The state of progress of the constructions for the transformer stations is not satisfactory
On the energy transformation site located in Kabezi in the province of Bujumbura, Ir Albert Manigomba, general manager of Regideso is not at all satisfied with the progress of the work of this station which will receive the energy from the Jiji-Mulembwe dams. The CEO of Regideso and the delegation noted that the Vinci company has dragged its feet a lot. Again, it was found that the recommendations of the last visit were not taken into consideration, especially on the environmental aspect. It was recommended to see how to channel rainwater to protect the site and study the risks that the work may have on the RN3.
The observation was the same at the energy dispatching center on the RN1. The Director General of Regideso recommends that the construction company strongly mobilize staff and adequate equipment to make up for the delays recorded. “Your reputation is at stake,” remarked the AfDB representative. He explains that it is in VINCI’s interest that its task be carried out properly, especially since it is not the latest project from donors that would interest the company. The success of the project will determine the continuation of the collaboration.
At the KEC International living base, material for the foundation of pylons and cables is available. However, the company is also experiencing delays.
The other finding is the poor collaboration between the three companies running the project. Points of technical divergences are revealed especially for the connections on the lines between VINCI and KEC on the dimensioning on the one hand and VINCI and ORASCOM on the other hand. Here again, the civil engineer was called upon to be vigilant and to decide on the question so that there is an interconnection between the three executors of the project.
Continuity of funding will depend on clearing up delays
On behalf of the funders of this project, Claude Bochu, Ambassador of the European Union in Burundi reiterated his commitment to support this project but after an evaluation of its progress. “We must first look together at the causes and responsibilities for the delays which have been significant”.
The Jiji-Mulembwe mega hydroelectric project will cost a total of 270.40 million USD and is financed respectively by the Burundian State (6%), the European Union – European Investment Bank – European Commission (49%), the Bank World (37%) and the African Development Bank (8%).
The Jiji-Mulembwe project, which will provide an additional 49.5MW, complements other national (Ruzibazi, KABU 16) and regional (Rusizi III, Rusumo Falls) hydroelectric projects beneficial to Burundi and supported by the same donors.
According to Claude Bochu, 200,000 new electricity connections will be made to businesses and the population. He wants local people, schools and health facilities to be the first to benefit from electricity before it is transported to Bujumbura. And to invite private investors to invest in the field of energy. “This will not be enough to achieve the objectives of universal access to electricity by 2030. We must also interest private investors to invest in this area”, he recommends.
Dona Fabiola Ruzagiriza and Bruce Habarugira
