** Subtitle: Rehabilitation and modernization of energy infrastructure in the DRC: issues and perspectives **
On May 24, 2025, the National Electricity Company (SNEL) announced a series of initiatives intended to restore and modernize the energy infrastructure of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This commitment, which extends from the TSHOPO hydroelectric power station to Inga II and Mbuji-Mayi, raises several questions about the country’s future energy, addressing both the challenges and the solutions envisaged.
### Energy infrastructure: a heritage to revitalize
Hydroelectric power plants such as those of Tshopo and Inga represent not only the energy potential of the DRC, but also a symbol of its natural heritage. Tshopo, with its group G1, is being reassembling, while ingen II, a pillar of the Congolese energy system, is undergoing rehabilitation work, involving partnerships with international companies like Voisho Hydro. This context raises the question of local capacities in the face of modernization often perceived as a means of integrating expertise outside the detriment of local sovereignty.
### An urgent need for energy and social responsibility
Chronic load shedding at Mbuji-Mayi highlight the urgency of an effective response to the persistent energy crisis. The recent SNEL initiatives, which include the installation of a new communication module, aim to guarantee stable food for the population of this long neglected region. This raises important challenges of social responsibility for the company, the commitment of which to provide a quality public service must be opposed to the need to account to avoid the perception of a lack of transparency.
### The central role of local expertise
The announced efforts are based not only on a requalified local technical workforce, but also on international partnerships. This mixture of expertise has both undeniable profits in terms of transfer of know-how and potential dependence risks. How will the DRC be able to balance these relationships in order to ensure lasting energy autonomy while taking advantage of technological innovations?
### Environmental and socio -political issues
The rehabilitation of energy infrastructure in a country rich in biodiversity as the DRC must also take into account major environmental concerns. The development of hydraulic resources of the Congo River, a symbol of immense natural richness, must be articulated around a sustainable economy incorporating respect for fragile ecosystems.
In addition, the question of the deployment of energy infrastructure is part of a complex socio -political context. Historical tensions between regions, often exacerbated by inequalities in access to electricity, require an inclusive approach seeking to ensure that the profits of projects benefit fairly at all strata of the population.
### to a fair energy future
Positive announcements around SNEL initiatives must be put into perspective with a long -term vision. The ambitions of modernization must be closely linked to an inclusive strategy that seeks not only to resolve the current crisis, but also to anticipate the future needs of a growing population.
The question that remains is whether these modernization efforts will be sufficient to durably transform the country’s energy card, while serving the interests of all Congolese. How can political, economic and social actors work together to build a resilient and equitable energy system capable of eradicating historical inequalities in terms of access to energy?
In short, the rehabilitation and modernization works of energy infrastructure in the DRC offers a precious opportunity to reflect not only in the country’s energy future, but also that of its citizens and its environment. It is in this quest for lasting solutions that the most crucial questions arise for the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo.