### Kolwezi’s Water and Energy Crisis: A Threat to Local Prosperity
The city of Kolwezi, capital of Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is going through a period of uncertainty and despair. The electricity supply, vital to daily life and the local economy, is being weakened by both natural and man-made factors. The recent visit of officials from the National Electricity Company (SNEL) to the banks of the Kando River highlighted an alarming problem: a dam imposed by a Chinese company is obstructing the flow of water crucial to the Nzilo, Seke and Busanga dams.
#### A delicate situation
The observation made by the members of the delegation, illustrated by the indignation of the Provincial Director of SNEL, reveals a worrying reality: economic development, particularly that linked to foreign investments, must not be done to the detriment of resources essential to the life of the population. The hydraulic dams, pillars of the electricity supply of Kolwezi, depend directly on the healthy flow of the Kando River. By reducing this flow of water, private interests are jeopardizing electricity production, leading to frequent power cuts.
This situation is part of a broader framework where the impasse of infrastructure and natural resource management is becoming more pressing every day. Recent reports already indicate that nearly 70% of households in Kolwezi suffer from frequent power cuts, adding an emergency dimension to this crisis.
#### The call of a suffering territory
The statements of the Administrator of the territory of Mutshatsha, Mwilu Mujinga Cymphorien, are revealing of the struggles experienced locally. His speech, marked by emotion, underlines the delicate balance to be maintained between industrial development and community well-being. The message is clear: the urgency of an intervention to deconstruct this dam and restore the natural course of the river is critical, and this does not only concern Kolwezi, but the entire DR Congo.
The contrast is striking with the vision of sustainable development advocated by international organizations, which insist on the need for harmonious cooperation between investors and local communities. Cases like that of Kolwezi carry with them a lesson on the social and environmental responsibility that foreign investors must adopt in developing countries.
#### Economic scope of the energy crisis
The economic impacts of this crisis go far beyond daily inconveniences. Businesses in Kolwezi that rely on a stable power supply to operate are facing a new reality: reduced productivity and rising operating costs due to expensive generators. This could cause a domino effect at the regional level, affecting trade, employment and the attractiveness of the province for new investors.
Moreover, at the national level, the energy crisis could slow down the economic development desired by the government. Statistics on access to electricity in the DRC are already not brilliant, with an access rate of around 20% for the rural population. The situation in Kolwezi is emblematic of a broader challenge: how to meet the growing energy needs of a booming population while protecting natural resources?
#### Solutions considered
Calls for action from local authorities should not remain a dead letter. The demolition of the dam, demanded by local actors, could be considered as part of a broader strategic planning for the management of water resources. It would also be appropriate for government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to commit to conducting impact studies that could inform decision-makers about the consequences of infrastructure projects on the environment.
The establishment of dialogues between investors, local authorities and civil society could also find its place as a means of anticipating and managing similar situations in the future. These discussions could lay the foundations for a sustainable development charter, providing guarantees to the local community while allowing investors to operate legally and with the support of the affected populations.
### Conclusion: a call for resolution
The Kolwezians, already tested by socio-economic challenges, deserve concrete and rapid solutions. The urgency of restoring the flow of the Kando River and securing energy supplies should not be underestimated. It is time to put the needs of the populations back at the heart of the concerns of authorities and investors. Compatibility between economic development and resource protection must be promoted, not only for the present, but also for a sustainable future.
At a time when the world is facing increasing environmental challenges, Kolwezi can become a model of constructive interaction between industrial progress and respect for the environment, provided that the voices of local stakeholders are heard and taken into account.