The Democratic Republic of Congo has inaugurated a 120 kW hybrid solar plant in Mambasa Ituri province. The project is part of the Green Energy post-pandemic initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable energy access in underserved communities.
Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with an investment of nearly US $700,000, the plant has a generation capacity of 120.96 kW, constructed by Ugandan solar company Aptech Africa. It features a distributed network extending across a 1 km radius.
READ: Egypt to receive US $170M for largest wind energy project
It will supply power to more than 300 users including six health centers, 224 small- to medium-sized enterprises, two community radios, four drinking water pumps, 19 administrative offices, and 89 households. The plant is expected to enhance local healthcare, business operations, water access, and administrative efficiency, improving overall quality of life in the region.
Energy in DRC
The DRC is endowed with abundant albeit untapped renewable energy resources including biomass and bioenergy, hydropower, solar and wind which highlight the country’s opportunities for renewable energy investments.
As of 2023, the DRC has the third-largest urban population in Africa, constituting 43% of its 102.3 million people, about 4.68 times the population of Beijing (21.84 million). By 2050, this population is forecasted to soar to 278 million, growing annually by 3.1%—a rate that exceeds both African (2.5%) and global (0.8%) averages.
While Beijing boasts a renewable capacity of 2181 MW, the DRC surpasses this with 2742 MW. Despite Beijing’s higher population density and technological advancements, the DRC’s substantial renewable capacity reflects its vast natural resources.
To mitigate this, the DRC’s National Strategic Development Plan aspires to transform the nation into a diversified, middle-income, climate resilient, and carbon-neutral economy by 2030. This includes an ambition for 7-8% annual growth, placing energy at its core.89 Aligning with these objectives, the DRC’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) sets a goal for a 2% unconditional emission reduction by 2030 while at the same time seeking to bolster its renewable energy capacity, attain a 32% electrification rate by 2030, and champion the use of cleaner fuels.
