The National Agency for Electrification and Energy Services in Rural and Suburban Areas (ANSER) continues to advance its program of access to electricity for all. Its latest achievement concerns the electrification of the Catholic mission of Kilembe.
Located in rural areas along the RN1 between Kikwit and Tshikapa, about 700 km from Kinshasa, the Catholic mission of Kilembe was electrified on Sunday July 9, 2023 thanks to the installation of a 62 kWp solar power plant by the ‘ANSER.
This step coincided with the celebration of the centenary of this Catholic mission. Monsignor José Moko, Bishop of the Diocese of Idiofa, expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, for his constant commitment in favor of access to electricity for all.
The Congolese population, particularly in rural areas, suffers from a lack of electricity, with an electrification rate that does not exceed 2%. The electrification of Kilembe is therefore a source of joy for Monsignor José Moko, who underlines the importance of electricity for the development and quality of life of the populations.
Kilembe enjoys relatively easy access due to its proximity to the national road, but like many other rural localities in the DRC, it has until now suffered from a lack of electricity. ANSER therefore undertook this electrification project to meet the energy needs of households and support the commercial, sanitary, administrative and public lighting activities of the Catholic mission.
In addition to the solar power plant, a solar pump has been installed for water supply, and a cassava mill has also been set up to improve energy services in the region.
The electrification of the Catholic mission of Kilembe is a significant step forward in ANSER’s ambition to electrify rural areas of the DRC. The positive socio-economic benefits of this project will soon be felt, offering new development opportunities for the region.
ANSER, in collaboration with the Electricity Sector Regulatory Authority (ARE), plays an essential role in the implementation of access to electricity in the DRC. This government agency helps to attract investment in the electric power sector and support economic growth in rural and peri-urban areas.
The electrification of the Catholic mission of Kilembe is therefore an important step in achieving this goal, underlining the Congolese government’s commitment to improving access to electricity for all Congolese. This achievement also inspires hope that other regions of the DRC can benefit from similar projects in the future