Engineering a sustainable future: Zutari’s role in burundi’s hydropower Milestone

In a region where access to reliable energy is both a challenge and a catalyst for change, the Jiji and Mulembwe Hydropower Project represents a powerful shift, one rooted in sustainability, collaboration, and long-term impact.

Funded by the World Bank, the European Union, and the African Development Bank, the project aims to reduce Burundi’s dependence on costly diesel generation by tapping into clean hydropower. The two new plants, a 32.5 MW facility on the Jiji River and a 17 MW facility on the Mulembwe River, will increase the country’s energy capacity from 60 MW to 109.5 MW, a transformative improvement for a growing population.

Zutari was entrusted with providing detailed design and construction drawings for both schemes. Our scope extended beyond the technical elements, from dams, tunnels, and powerhouses to permanent access roads, housing, and support infrastructure for workers and communities. We also supported commissioning and testing to help ensure a successful handover.

At its core, this project reflects what Zutari stands for: engineering that is grounded in
purpose, shaped by partnership, and designed for lasting human benefit. It is also aligned with our Blueprint ambition to deepen our contribution to Africa’s energy transition through people-centred, sustainable solutions.

As the turbines turn, so too does a new chapter for Burundi, one powered not just by water, but by vision, collaboration, and hope.

Explore more about the project’s inauguration here

At Zutari, we believe in co-creating an engineered impact enable environments, communities and economies to thrive.

Zutari is an infrastructure advisory, design, and engineering consultancy. In the past 90 years, we’ve formed a deep-rooted relationship with Africa, the Middle East, and its people. Staying in business for almost a century is a testament to our agility and resilience.

Our broad collective of in-house, industry-recognised engineering consultants and trusted advisors provide seamless and integrated delivery of infrastructure projects. These solutionists combine their technical mastery, creative intelligence, and digital smarts to reframe traditional engineering for a new world.

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Clear communication has become just as important as technical excellence in today’s engineering and technical sectors. While strong engineering foundations remain essential, visual communication now plays a central role in transforming raw data and complex processes into compelling, accessible narratives.
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