The Republic of the Congo has launched a study to assess electricity supply needs for its special economic zones and industrial facilities, amid rising electricity demand and concern about the reliability and cost of power for industrial operators.
The initiative was launched earlier this week by Michel Djombo, the country’s Minister of Industrial Development, SEZs and Private Sector Promotion. It will be supervised by the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics, implemented by the National Agency for Rural Electrification and supported technically by the United Nations Development Programme.
According to the launch description, the study will compare four potential approaches to meeting industrial electricity demand: solar paired with battery storage; biomass and cogeneration using agricultural, forestry and agro-industrial residues; connections to the national grid where available; and hybrid energy systems.
Beyond technology choice, the assessment is expected to establish a pricing benchmark for energy solutions in the Congolese industrial market. It will also examine different commercial arrangements for supplying industrial customers, including turnkey installations financed directly by businesses, financing services for equipment purchases and the introduction of independent power producers. The initiative is expected to identify bankable projects capable of attracting public and private investment.
Speaking at the launch event, Djombo questioned solar electricity offers priced at between XAF 130 ($0.22) and XAF 150/kWh, describing some of them as opportunistic. He said international comparisons would help establish fair and sustainable pricing. The minister also highlighted the cost of relying on diesel generators during periods of electricity supply disruption, saying the price of generated electricity can reach almost XAF 200/kWh.
Electricity supply constraints are affecting industrial operators in the country, according to the minister, with some companies reportedly having to suspend production lines. Despite high diesel prices, Djombo said some industrial operators remain reluctant to commit to alternative energy solutions and are waiting for market conditions to become clearer.
The commercial models under review range from business-financed turnkey installations to equipment-purchase financing and independent power producers, according to the launch information. The study is intended to identify bankable projects and to compare supply options against a pricing benchmark, rather than to prescribe one technology in advance. Its results could inform how industrial customers contract for power, but the launch has not yet produced final recommendations or pricing conclusions.
The Africa Solar Industry Association’s project database identifies 35.6 MW of operational solar in the Republic of the Congo to date. Of that total, 27 MW is listed as unidentified commercial and industrial projects.
The study is being launched as electricity demand increases and industrial operators face supply constraints. Its scope covers special economic zones and industrial facilities, and it is expected to assess suitable supply solutions as demand rises. No completion date or size of the industrial load to be examined was provided.