The second deputy speaker of the senate visits some sectors under the supervision of the ministry of energy and mines

The control of government action is among the responsibilities of the Senate. It is in this context that this Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Honourable Fabrice NKURUNZIZA, accompanied by the Minister responsible for Energy and Mines, visited some sectors under the supervision of this ministry to notice the implementation status of the projects they had planned for the current budget year.

He indicated that this visit falls into the missions of the parliament, to control government action. Given that the Government recently put in place a new programme budget system, the Senate of Burundi wanted to evaluate the implementation of the latter, he indicated.

He also stressed that this evaluation will allow the Senate to properly analyze the 2024-2025 budget law.

Concerning the Burundian Rural Electrification Agency, it had planned to purchase equipment for the electrification of 20 centres in the country for the current budget year. After discussion, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate was informed that this budget has not yet been used following the long process linked to the award of the contract. With the equipment that this agency had in its stock, 15 centres are being electrified. Honourable NKURUNZIZA encouraged the authorities concerned and urged them to make an effort to electrify the remaining five.

As for the health centre of Matyazo, it was chosen as a pilot centre by the Nyakiriza sun project which intends to provide solar energy to more than 250 health centres. After the visit, the Second Deputy Speaker appreciated this project.

The visit to ECOFO Randa was in the framework of another project that Nyakiriza sun is carrying out in schools with school canteens, called “institutional kitchen shelters and improved stoves”, to reduce the quantity of firewood and the basic school of Randa is among the beneficiaries of this project. This project was also very appreciated by the Second Deputy Speaker of the Senate because with the reduction of firewood, the environment will also be protected.

Regarding the visit to the pumping station which is of capital importance for the country, it was noted that it is under threat from the rising waters of Lake Tanganyika.