The World Bank is supporting a hydropower project in the Republic of Burundi – a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa – with a $100 million (£59.5m) loan.

The Jiji-Mulembwe project will finance the construction of two hydropower stations with a total capacity of 48MW – generating clean electricity and replacing those produced from more costly alternative sources such as diesel generators.

Only 4% of Burundi’s 10 million people currently have access to electricity, making it one of the lowest access rates across the globe, according to the World Bank.

Demand for electricity in the nation is expected to grow from 46MW in 2012 to 92MW by 2018 and could reach as high as 192MW by 2025, it added.

Makhtar Diop, World Bank Vice President for Africa said: “By developing hydropower responsibly, the World Bank can contribute to peace and stability in the wider Great Lakes region. The Jiji-Mulembwe hydropower project will deliver clean, low-cost hydropower and development impact for Burundi while also protecting the environment.”