Kinshasa, September 30th, 2026 (CPA).- The National Electricity Company (SNEL) has been called upon to rehabilitate and modernise its electricity infrastructure in order to improve the power supply and reduce the energy deficit in the city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a document consulted on Wednesday by CPA.
“We recommend to SNEL to rehabilitate and modernise its infrastructure in order to ensure the optimal distribution of electricity, to guarantee its upkeep, maintenance and safety, and to combat mismanagement at the local level through rigorous monitoring and periodic inspections,” it is read in the document signed by Johanna Kamala, national director of the non-profit organisation “African Women for Natural Resources (AWNR)”.
Ms Kamala has indicated that these measures should contribute to overcome the technical and financial challenges facing the electricity sector and sustainably improve the supply to households and economic activities in Kinshasa.The AWNR director has particularly suggested to the government to build new power stations and diversify energy sources through a decentralised approach, notably by integrating renewable energy.She has also advocated investing in less costly energy projects that can be completed within a short timeframe and located close to local communities, in order to meet electricity needs more quickly.
She has emphasised that it is important for the government to pay its electricity bills regularly, to complete the reform of the National Electricity Company (SNEL) in accordance with DRC Energy Compact, and to support the project aiming to make public buildings energy self-sufficient.This measure aims to enable public buildings to have self-sufficient energy solutions and to free up part of the electricity currently consumed by these infrastructures, in order to redirect it towards households and contribute in reducing the energy deficit.
Preserving infrastructure
Furthermore, Ms Kamala has urged the Congolese people to preserve public electricity infrastructure and to refrain from any acts of destruction, vandalism or unauthorised tampering with SNEL’s installations. Such practices, according to her, would help to prevent accidents, energy losses and risks related to public safety.“Sustainable improvement in access to electricity requires concerted action between the public authorities, SNEL and users, in order to address the challenges relating to infrastructure, management, financing and the consumption of electricity,” she has concluded.