The Mpanda Hydroelectric Rehabilitation Project (10 MW) in Burundi aims to revitalize an abandoned site (since 2017) of a partially constructed reservoir dam for a hydropower project. This project will also involve the development of a c.27 km powerline connecting to a main power station. The upstream section of the project, including the weir, is situated within the boundaries of the abandoned construction site, which is located inside Kibira National Park. This national park is known to harbor the largest population of Endangered eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Burundi. This project is being developed by Hydroneo, which has entered into a public-private partnership agreement and a power purchase agreement with the Burundian authorities. The project seeks to align with best practices, in particular with IFC Performance Standards, as requested by lenders. Hydroneo reached out to the ARRC Task Force and signed our MoU in April 2024.
