**The Congolese economy weighed down by the energy crisis: a colossal challenge**
At the heart of the economic issues that hinder the Democratic Republic of Congo, the energy issue is emerging as a major obstacle to its development. The recent revelations of Fabrice Lusinde, Director General of the National Electricity Company (SNEL), highlight the extent of the shortfall for the mining sector, with nearly four billion dollars lost over the last five years.
This alarming situation is the result of inadequate planning and the absence of an ambitious energy policy based on the considerable hydroelectric resources available to the country. The disastrous consequences of this energy crisis are being felt even in the operations of mining companies, such as the Canadian company Ivanhoe Mines, which was forced to revise downwards its copper production forecasts for 2024.
Faced with these significant challenges, the mining sector must now consider emergency solutions to compensate for power outages, such as strengthening local energy capacities and importing electricity. However, these temporary measures are not enough to bridge the structural gap that is shaking the Congolese energy sector.
SNEL, on the front line of this crisis, is facing major structural and economic challenges. With an aging and obsolete infrastructure, the company is struggling to reach its optimal production capacities, jeopardizing its already fragile economic profitability. Indeed, an outdated economic model is hampering its ability to invest in the long term and meet the country’s growing energy needs.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, although rich in hydroelectric potential, is facing a striking energy paradox. The pharaonic Grand Inga project, supposed to revolutionize the sector, is struggling to materialize due to insurmountable financial and logistical constraints. This project, estimated at nearly 100 billion dollars, symbolizes in itself the thwarted aspirations of the country to become a major player on the African energy scene.
Faced with this unprecedented energy crisis, it is becoming imperative for the Congolese authorities to rethink their overall energy strategy. Massive investment in renewable energies, strengthening existing infrastructure and promoting transparent and effective governance are all essential measures to turn the page on the crisis and open a new prosperous chapter for the country’s economy.
In a context where energy is the engine of all sustainable development, the Democratic Republic of Congo cannot afford to lag behind. It is by meeting the energy challenge with determination and long-term vision that the country will be able to embark on the path to prosperity and economic stability.