The Congo River, with its basin straddling the Equator, offers the DRC an exploitable energy potential estimated at 100,000 MW, spread over 780 sites located in 145 territories and 76,000 villages. This potential represents about 37% of the total African potential and nearly 6% of the world potential.

The DRC also has significant potential in renewable energy resources such as biomass, wind, solar, biogas, biofuel, etc.

Concerning the Grand INGA project, in particular, it should be noted that its potential power is of the order of 39,000 MW.

Out of a total installed capacity in the DRC estimated at 2,516 MW, SNEL , the State owned electric company, has a generating capacity of about 2,416 MW, i.e., 96% of the national installed capacity, mainly made up of hydroelectric power stations. However, actual production is only 6,000 to 7,000 GWh. Self-producers share the remaining 100 MW of the installed capacity, i.e., 4%.

Despite the country’s enormous potential, much of the territory remains without electricity due to the obsolescence of installations dating from the colonial period and the lack of new investors in the sector. The country’s electrification rate remains low at 9.6%, and the government’s vision is to increase the service rate to 32% by 2030.

Source: ANAPI, 2021.