Date: 11 May 2023
Location: Kinshasa
Description: The growing demand for electricity will be met by investing further in diversified renewables projects, in particular decentralized power solutions using solar, wind, geothermal or hydro. The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA)’s funding round in DRC has been an initial catalyzer to promote clean off-grid energy solutions. If fully implemented, the Grand Inga Dam project has the capacity to produce 42GW, becoming the world’s biggest hydroelectricity project. However, there are immediate electricity challenges in the region so, going for small-scale and lower-cost options will play a critical role to overcome grid limitations and expand electricity access to the population in rural and peri-urban areas. A bonanza for technology providers, next generation storage systems providers, transmission and distributed power infrastructure.
Furthermore, due to its position as a key source of minerals, DRC wants to play a leading role in the shift to a clean energy system. The scaling up of the worldwide energy transition will drive a huge increase in the requirements for metals used in batteries, solar components, wind turbines and also electric vehicles. With appropriate incentives, there is a window of opportunity for private sector to invest and cooperate under a PPP model with an emerging major force in the mineral markets.
