“On the national level, the Congolese state has allocated a certain amount of money… despite all the social economic problems we are facing,” said Damien Twambilangana, the deputy managing director of the National Agency for Rural Electrification Services.
“The government has made an effort to set aside funds but … it’s not enough. That’s why we keep participating in many international forums to attract foreign investors.”
There was hope that the plant would one day also provide hydroelectricity to neighbouring countries including Namibia, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa.
But the project is expected to cost US$80 billion – an eye-watering figure that has been beset by funding challenges, including a pull-out by the World Bank.
SOLAR PANELS ON THE RISE
In the meantime, the Congolese business community has taken matters into its own hands to provide affordable solar power to locals.
Industry players said one upside to solar energy is that it does not need a grid, and hence is not at the mercy of unreliable power from the national electricity grid.
