How many people have electricity in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Goma hybrid solar project in the Democratic Republic of Congo According to the World Bank, only 19% of the DRC’s around 102 million people have access to electricity. This translates to about 41% in urban areas and 1% in rural areas.

How will a solar hybrid mini-grid work in DRC?

MIGA said CESL is developing, building and operating solar hybrid mini-grid projects through Nuru SASU in DRC to generate up to 15MW of electricity. Once completed, the project will provide electricity to around 28,000 households and businesses that “currently have expensive, unreliable, unsustainable, or no access to electricity.”

Will Central Africa's first green solar power plant be built in 2023?

Plans for central Africa’s first green hydrogen PV power plant are also in the works as of March 2023, thanks to Hydrogéne de France (HDF Energy) — an independent power producer hoping to develop new innovative solar infrastructure in the DRC.

What are the barriers to the provision of adequate power in DRC?

Key barriers to the provision of appropriate power in DRC include heavy reliance on hydropower generation, of which less than 50% is currently available for generation due to aging infrastructure and lack of maintenance, and the underdeveloped power grid which only covers the southern and the eastern region.

Why is the DRC not using hydropower?

Although hydropower had contributed to a significant share of the country’s installed capacity, the waterways the DRC relies on for electricity, the Inga I and Inga II rivers, have never operated at full capacity due to insufficient maintenance and lack of funding for refurbishment.

Why do Congolese people need electricity?

According to the International Trade Administration, lack of access to modern electricity services impairs the health, education and income-generating potential of millions of Congolese people. “Most power generation development is directed and funded by mining companies seeking to power their facilities.”