Some consumers wonder whether the shortage of electricity they have experienced over the last months has been caused by the fact that they were paying little.
Shortage of electricity coupled with shortage of fuel paralyse all activities that depend on electric power.
After several months of getting electricity on rolling blackouts, residents of Bujumbura city will “soon” start receiving the electricity normally, but at higher prices, says the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The news about prospects of availability of electricity comes as a sigh of relief for many. They, however, worry the prices might become unaffordable.
“The distribution of electricity on rolling blackouts will soon end”, says Côme Manirakiza, the Minister of Energy and Mines.
He says the conditions for the distribution of the electricity will be determined in a meeting the ministry will have with other stakeholders next week.
What’s already known is that the prices will increase according to Mr. Manirakiza. He says consumers will have to use it wisely.
Bujumbura has suffered a serious shortage of power from the last months of last year. Economic and other activities that depend on it have been repeatedly disrupted.
Vendors of products, such as fish and milk, that require electric power says they experience great losses.
Many residents of different parts of Bujumbura say they get electricity for very a short time. Others say they spend almost an entire week without it.
Authorities say the shortage is mainly caused by little water in hydroelectric dams due to the lack of the rain. The shortage of electricity has been worsened by the lack of fuel that started in the end of March.
Electricity at any cost
Residents of Bujumbura, who say they have suffered a lot because of the shortage of electricity, are partially relieved by the announcement by the Minister.
For many, what’s more important is that the electricity is available. “Let it be at any cost. What’s important for me is that it is available”, says Agnès N, a resident of Bujumbura.
Same thing for Godoliève Minani, a seller of fresh milk. “I lose when there is not electricity because milk becomes spoilt”, she says. “I’d rather have electricity at any price”, she adds.
She says however, she hopes decision-makers will fix reasonable prices. “If the prices are too high, we will not afford them and we will remain in the same situation.”
In his speech, the Ministry of Energy and Mines has insinuated that not everyone will be able to afford the new prices. “Electricity is not a luxury for everyone”, he said.
Gaspard Bambarukontari, a barber, says the increase of prices should be a stopgap measure. “The measure should be temporary to allow us continue our lives normally. Meanwhile, the government should do its best to bring prices back to normal”, says Bambarukontari.
For others, the prospect of increasing the prices of electricity causes them an outrage. “We are already poor. We hardly make it through the day”, says R.N. “We’d prefer food to electricity”, he adds.
“Where will they get the electricity, by the way? Was it unavailable because we were paying little?” he wonders.
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