The Minister of Water Resources and Electricity, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, painted a worrying picture of the energy situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo before the Senate. He particularly highlighted the inability of the National Electricity Company (SNEL) to maintain its operations in the eastern regions of the country.

🛑 Loss of control of infrastructure

According to the minister, SNEL can no longer operate in areas "illegally occupied by the Rwandan Democratic Forces (RDF) and their proxies, the AFC/M23," after losing control of the Ruzizi 1 (29.8 MW) and Ruzizi 2 (24 MW) hydroelectric dams . This situation has led to the relocation and support of several company employees.

Furthermore, this occupation prevents the DRC from participating in the technical activities of major regional energy projects, such as those coordinated by NELSAP (Multinational Project for the Interconnection of Electricity Networks of the Equatorial Lake Countries of the Nile).

📉 An alarming energy deficit

Addressing the issue of service, the minister revealed a major structural imbalance between electricity supply and demand.

1. Current national demand (SNEL area) : 6,880 MW.
2. Availability (SNEL perimeter) : 2,507 MW.
3. Overall deficit (SNEL perimeter) : More than 4,372 MW, including 1,150 MW for Kinshasa.

The minister specified that if we consider the entire territory, the overall national deficit exceeds 20,000 MW .

🌟 Inga's vision and the "energy mix"

Despite the urgency, Aimé Sakombi Molendo reaffirmed that the Inga hydroelectric complex remains the "central pillar" of energy policy. It is seen as the strategic asset that could make the DRC a global energy powerhouse .

However, recognizing that Inga is a "long-term" project, the government is deploying a "truly pragmatic energy mix" including:

1. Hydroelectricity
2. Solar
3. Mini-grids and power plants in rural areas
4. Energy imports for industrial companies

To rapidly increase access to electricity, the minister concluded by announcing that, through ANSER and the financing of 100 new power plants , 26 of them should be operational by December, allowing an additional 1 million Congolese to have access to electricity .