- INTRODUCTION
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa by land area and shares borders with nine neighboring countries, positioning it as a key regional hub for trade, migration, and resource distribution. As such, the DRC plays a pivotal role in shaping the economic and political landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa (Herderschee et al., 2011). However, the country faces major economic challenges due to its large population, with Kinshasa alone housing over 10 million people. Rapid urbanization, fueled by ongoing conflicts in the eastern region, has also intensified this challenge by triggering migration (Eric et al., 2010). Poverty is widespread, with 60 million people (about 60% of the population) living on less than 2.15 dollars per day, placing the DRC among the five poorest countries in the world. Furthermore, the country’s overreliance on mining and systemic corruption hinders the country’s development potential (Mufungizi, 2024).
Although urbanization presents challenges, it also holds significant economic potential, particularly in the expansion of electricity access, if managed strategically. Urbanization creates opportunities for focused and cost-effective electricity grid expansion in densely populated areas. The rapid urban growth underscores an urgent need for strategic planning and investment in urban electricity infrastructure to meet the rising demand efficiently (World Bank. 2020).
- ELECTRICITY ACCESS IN DRC
Most electricity in the DRC comes from hydropower, with the state-owned Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL) responsible for production and distribution. Despite some efforts to expand the electricity grid to more areas, these efforts have not kept pace with the country’s population growth, resulting in a largely static electricity supply despite increasing demand. One of the major challenges is the poor condition of the electricity infrastructure. Decades of mismanagement, inadequate investment, and poor maintenance have led to significant deterioration of the grid. As a result, SNEL is currently able to produce only about half of its total capacity, leaving the country facing a substantial electricity shortage (Thompson et al., 2024). In 2020, only 1.6 million of the DRC’s 10 million households had access to electricity, with access varying drastically by location. In urban areas, about 4 in 10 people have access to power (Figure 1), while in rural areas, almost no one (0.4%) does (World Bank. 2020).

Figure 1: Share of people with access to electricity in 2013-2014 (World Bank, 2020)
In 2009, the DRC produced about 7,500 gigawatt-hours of electricity, less than half of its installed capacity. The Inga I and II dams, with a combined capacity of 8,000 megawatts, fail to meet demand, leading to frequent power cuts in Kinshasa. Additionally, many smaller hydropower plants are non-functional, and only about one-third of smaller thermal power plants are operational (Herderschee et al., 2011).
There are significant disparities between large and small businesses in terms of electricity access. Many large companies (those with over one hundred employees) have adapted by building and managing their own power infrastructure, including generators. As such only 39% of these larger companies consider electricity shortages as an obstacle to growth, while the majority of smaller companies (fewer than twenty employees) consider electricity shortages a severe hindrance to their operations. Indeed, only about one-third of these smaller companies own generators (Herderschee et al., 2011), which are essential for maintaining operations during outages but come with the added burden of high operational costs, as they rely on expensive fuels like diesel and gasoline (World Bank. 2020).
- MICROGRIDS
- Description
In the DRC, there is great potential for the development of isolated electricity grids, especially in remote areas that are far from the main power grid. These regions could benefit from independent, localized grids tailored to their specific energy needs. Many of these remote areas support economic activities that could make small-scale grids financially sustainable (World Bank. 2020).
A microgrid is a small, self-contained power system that integrates different energy sources, like solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cells, gas turbines, and batteries, to produce and store electricity. It can operate independently or be connected to a larger power grid. Microgrids can switch modes based on the situation. Under normal conditions, they work in tandem with the main grid, facilitating two-way electricity flow. If the main grid fails, the microgrid can isolate itself and continue to power critical areas. Once the main grid is fixed, the microgrid can reconnect smoothly and return to normal operation. In short, microgrids offer a smart, flexible, and reliable energy solution for both urban and remote areas, balancing the advantages of renewable energy and advanced technologies (Zhou et al., 2015). Studies show that the cost of building power lines and other infrastructure to bring power from far off power stations can be more expensive than using local solutions like microgrids. This is particularly true in rural areas with low electricity demand, where the cost of building long power lines is not justified because so much energy is lost while traveling along these lines. Furthermore, microgrids, by utilizing locally available renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or small hydro projects, offer a more sustainable solution that does not depend on volatile energy prices (Williams et al., 2015).
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- Economic Considerations
Microgrids face different economic risks depending on the energy sources used, including fluctuations in fuel prices, uncertain electricity demand, and currency exchange issues. For example, solar systems are vulnerable to demand fluctuations, while diesel systems are more susceptible to changes in fuel costs. To mitigate these risks, solutions such as hybrid systems or adjusting tariffs in response to fuel prices can help shift cost risks to consumers (Williams et al., 2018). In addition to managing these risks, identifying potential revenue streams is essential as they impact financing, system size, and ownership decisions. Adding controls and increasing system size can enable more revenue opportunities but may raise costs. A cost-benefit analysis is necessary to ensure these changes are economically viable and align with engineering and environmental goals (Oueid, 2019).
- EXAMPLE OF A CURRENT PROJECT
The Renoir Lemoine Institut launched a project in 2020 to promote decentralized energy solutions such as microgrids in the DRC. The project aims to propose small renewable energy projects designed to better serve the rural population as alternatives to large-scale hydropower investments, which primarily benefit industrial sectors. Case studies conducted as part of the project involve analyzing locations, mapping buildings and activities, and designing renewable energy systems using solar, hydropower, and hybrid technologies. The team also refines population and energy demand models (Reiner Lemoine Institut. (n.d.)).
- DISCUSSION
Reliable access to electricity is crucial for the success of small enterprises and economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. In the DRC, one of the world’s least electrified countries, limited electricity access severely hampers the growth of small businesses. Studies show that reliable electricity boosts financial performance, productivity, growth, job creation, and business opportunities for small enterprises. However, the economic benefits of electricity access vary across different sectors. On the other hand, frequent power outages have been shown to reduce productivity and cause substantial financial losses, as evidenced in Nigeria. Reliable electricity is therefore essential for sustainable enterprise growth and broader economic development (Thompson et al., 2024).
Furthermore, key factors to improve the quality and performance of higher education institutions include physical infrastructure, IT resources and reliable electricity. In the DRC, where electricity is often unreliable, especially in rural areas, many institutions are forced to rely on generators. Even in Kinshasa, power outages are frequent, and internet access remains limited and costly. These challenges hinder teaching, research, and overall academic performance. While the Ministry of Higher Education introduced an online learning platform in 2022, consistent access to fiber-optic internet is still lacking. To address these issues, the government must collaborate with internet providers to ensure affordable, widespread connectivity and a reliable electricity supply. Reducing internet costs and expanding fiber-optic networks will enable students, researchers, and faculty to access essential online resources, fostering research output and supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo’s goal of becoming a middle-income economy by 2030 (Mukolo, 2024).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Eric, M. M. N., Shouyu, C., and Qin, Z. L. “Sustainable Urbanization’s Challenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 3, no. 2, 2010, p. 242.
Herderschee, J., Kaiser, K.-A., and Samba, D. M. Resilience of an African Giant: Boosting Growth and Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. World Bank Publications, 2011.
Mufungizi, I. “Mineral Potential Facing Socio-Economic Development Challenges: Case Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a ‘Geological Scandal’.” International Geology Review, 2024, pp. 1–23.
Mukolo, J. B. “Academic Infrastructures as Critical Success Factors for Business Process Reengineering to Achieve Academic Performance of Higher Education Institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).” Universal Journal of Educational Research, vol. 3, no. 3, 2024, pp. 276–298.
Oueid, R. K. “Microgrid Finance, Revenue, and Regulation Considerations.” The Electricity Journal, vol. 32, no. 5, 2019, pp. 2–9.
Thompson, J., Ramazani, R. B., Sinai, C. S., Bindu, K. K., and Jagger, P. “Do Decentralized Solar Mini Grids Improve Energy Access for Small Enterprises in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo?” Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 81, 2024, p. 101464.
Williams, N. J., Jaramillo, P., and Taneja, J. “An Investment Risk Assessment of Microgrid Utilities for Rural Electrification Using the Stochastic Techno-Economic Microgrid Model: A Case Study in Rwanda.” Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 42, 2018, pp. 87–96.
Williams, N. J., Jaramillo, P., Taneja, J., and Ustun, T. S. “Enabling Private Sector Investment in Microgrid-Based Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 52, 2015, pp. 1268–1281.
WorldPop (www.worldpop.org – School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project – Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00675
Zhou, X., Guo, T., and Ma, Y. “An Overview on Microgrid Technology.” Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA), 2015, pp. 76–81. IEEE.