In 2014, according to the World Bank Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) consumed 389 kg of oil equivalent per inhabitant¹. The country's energy intensity is 21 (2015)² Only 5.4% of the energy used comes from fossil fuels.³. Today, biomass is the main source of energy⁴. According to the report Energy Information System 2010 carried out by the CNE, biomass accounts for 95% of the DRC's overall energy balance. Demand for domestic biomass energy in the DRC is 45 million cubic metres of wood a year, and is responsible for the destruction of 400,000 hectares of forest every year.⁵. The DRC has 122 million hectares of forest⁶.

Electrical sector

In 2017, according to the World Bank, only 19.1% of the country's population had access to electricity.⁷per capita consumption was just 109 KWh (compared with 170 KWh in 1989)⁸. 95% of this electricity is supplied by renewable energies⁹. There is a wide disparity in access to electricity, with 50% of city dwellers having access compared with only 5% in rural areas.¹⁰In Kinshasa, the rate is close to 60%.¹¹.

The installed capacity in the DRC is 2,400 MW, but only 1,281 MW are operational. For example, the Inga 1 and Inga 2 dams on the Congo River (built in 1972 and 1982 respectively) were supposed to supply 1,770 MW (351 for Inga 1 and 1,424 for Inga 2) of energy, but due to maintenance problems are only supplying 1,000 MW of power.¹. According to SNEL²Only 30% of installed capacity is being used.⁸.

Source: SNEL report, Production June 2003 (quoted in "État des lieux du secteur Énergie 2005", CNE)

SNEL owns 39 power stations (24 thermal and 15 hydroelectric), representing 44% of power stations, but has 95% of installed capacity.

According to UNDPIn 2030, the DRC will consume 150,000 GWh of electricity, a 23.8-fold increase compared to 2011.¹².

Hydraulic potential

The country has 1/3 of the hydropower potential of the whole of Africa and 6% of the world, with an estimated potential of 100,000 MW.⁷ representing an estimated annual production of 774 TWh. Today, only 3% of this potential is exploited.^13,14. The major projects are Inga 3 (3500 MW) and Grand Inga (3900 MW).⁹. The Congo River has an average flow of 41,000 cubic metres per second.¹⁰ and reached a peak of 80,000⁴.

Solar potential

The Congo is developing solar energy for individual use not connected to the electricity grid^15,16.

Fossil fuels sector

Oil

The DRC has oil reserves of Moanda¹⁷This oil is exploited exclusively by Perenco. The oil industry accounts for 8% of the country's GDP.¹⁸There is opposition to this type of operation because of its environmental and social impact¹⁹.

There is also oil in Ituri, this time exploited by Total, and this area is experiencing violence which is hindering its development.^{20,21,22,23,24,25}.

Coal

Coal is extracted from mines in Katanga^26,27,28.

Gas

There is a reserve of 300 billion cubic metres of methane in the ocean. Lake Kivu^29,30.

Nuclear sector

Uranium ore found in Katanga mines²⁶. The uranium deposit was identified in 1915 by Union Minière du Haut Katanga. Mining began in 1921, and the uranium is believed to have been used to make the nuclear bombs used in the Second World War. Today, this uranium is mined clandestinely.^31,32,33.

Notes and references