Kinshasa, June 10th, 2026 (CPA).- More than 90% of households in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) still rely on charcoal for cooking, according to a statement from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) consulted by CPA on Wednesday. “In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 90% of households still depend on makala, or charcoal, to prepare their meals. The consequences are severe, including accelerated deforestation, indoor air pollution and increasing economic pressure on families,” the statement read.
According to the communiqué, 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean cooking solutions. This situation results in several million premature deaths each year due to household air pollution, as well as considerable economic losses. “Women and girls bear the heaviest burden, often spending hours collecting firewood at the expense of education or income-generating activities. Clean cooking is not a marginal issue; it lies at the intersection of climate, energy, health, gender equality and economic development,” the statement added.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as elsewhere, clean cooking represents a development priority and an essential tool for reducing pressure on forests, improving household health and supporting a more inclusive energy transition. Yet, despite its strategic importance, the sector has not yet reached the scale required to meet present and future challenges.
According to the source, alternatives already exist. Several companies are offering Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution models, developing improved cook stoves and producing sustainable fuels such as briquettes and pellets.
“The real challenge today is no longer to prove that clean energy solutions exist, but rather to create the financial conditions that will enable this market to demonstrate that it is essential for the energy transition, economically viable and attractive to investors,” the statement continued. However, it pointed out that many high-potential enterprises still struggle to access bank financing. According to World Bank data, 92% of financing for Congolese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comes exclusively from their own resources due to the lack of suitable bank credit facilities. For many investors, the sector remains relatively new, creating uncertainty when it comes to granting loans. Business models are still emerging, value chains remain fragmented and guarantees are limited. In low-income markets, demand is also often perceived as uncertain.