Kinshasa, May 19th, 2025 (CPA). – The quantity and quality of water turbined in the hydroelectric power stations of the National Authority of Electricity (Snel) have been identified as determining factors in the production of electricity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to a document produced by this public operator and consulted by the CPA on Monday. ‘The quantity and quality of the water turbined in the Snel power stations are decisive in the production of electricity in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, it reads. According to the source, electricity generation in the DRC is largely based on harnessing the waters of the Congo River and its tributaries, such as Lufira, Tshopo, Ubangi and Inkisi, as well as those of Lake Kivu and the Kiyimbi and Kilubi rivers. These water resources are the raw material for the country’s various hydroelectric power stations. However, in 2024, several factors compromised electricity production. Flooding in January and February led to a significant drop in the capacity of the Inga 2 power station, while water pollution by household waste from major cities such as Kinshasa, Goma and Bukavu exacerbated the situation.
An energy and environmental challenge
The same source revealed that the transport of logs on the Congo River and the construction of dykes in the Lualaba and Lufira watersheds have caused the forced shutdown of machinery in several power stations, including Nzilo, Nseke, Mwadingusha and Koni, from November and December 2024. In addition, the impact of human activity on the DRC’s waterways is jeopardizing the stability of the electricity supply. Snel’s infrastructure, which depends on the quantity and quality of the water, has been weakened. ‘The DRC’s energy future depends on a balance between exploiting resources and protecting the environment’, said Snel.