Kinshasa, June 24th, 2025 (CPA).– On Tuesday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the National Electricity Company (Snel) presented its main financial indicators and current projects during the first day of the 2ᵉ edition of Energy Week, organized by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE). ‘In 2024, Snel paid USD 100.3 million to the Treasury, while it records a debt of USD 3 billion. It remains indebted to the State (USD 278 million), public companies (USD 70 million) and the provinces (USD 60 million),’ said Fabrice Lusinde, Managing Director of Snel. ‘Despite our actions and payments to the state, we are not protected by the regulatory authority when it comes to recovery,’ he lamented. He pointed out that more than 30% of the energy produced is not billed or recovered. And that Snel is currently supplying 1,100 MW out of the 2,200 MW contracted for delivery. As a result, he called for a review of certain contracts, particularly in the mining sector, and for clarification of the legal regime relating to the import of electricity, which in his view remains unclear to date. ‘On the operational front, Snel points to internal organizational problems, in particular the situation of 15,000 day laborers who have not yet stabilized, and 1,600 managers with 3 agents each – an unbalanced management structure. It also reports encroachments on its infrastructure caused by uncontrolled urbanisation’, he said.
Snel’s technical and operational advances (2023-2025)
At the same time, Snel presented the progress made over the two years from 2023 to 2025, in particular the connection of 100,000 new customers, the recruitment of 927 technicians, and the launch of digital solutions including ‘SNEL & Moi’, ‘SNELBOX’ and ‘Blue Energy’. ‘He also announced the abolition of flat-rate billing, the record collection of public lighting taxes in Kinshasa (CDF 6.8 billion), Lubumbashi (CDF 7.1 billion) and Kolwezi (CDF 15.9 billion), and investments of USD 14.1 million in rural electrification. He also pointed out that in order to modernise the infrastructure, major works have been carried out from east to west, from Muanda to Kalemie, via Kisangani, Kolwezi, Gbadolite and Kinshasa.
‘Production: Inga 2 G23 (+40 MW), Nseke G2 (+65 MW), Inga 1 G16 (+55 MW), Tshopo G1 (+6 MW), Inga 2 G25 (+190 MW)’, explained SNEL’s CEO. On the transmission side, he said that Inga-Kolwezi capacity had been increased to 800 MW, adding that, as regards distribution, continuous power supply had been provided to Mbuji-Mayi, Kolwezi, Kisangani and Katogota. On the customer side, 60 medium-voltage cabins have been installed in Kinshasa Nord, and the Funa and Liminga substations have been upgraded. Ms Sandra Mubenga, CEO of the AER, reminded the audience of the fundamental role of regulation: ‘to guarantee a fair, stable market geared towards sustainable development, while briefly outlining the AER’s achievements’. His deputy, Marc Kuyu, insisted on the legal foundations to be consolidated to protect producers like Snel. Snel, for its part, believes that energy development is an essential lever for reducing dependence on wood energy and supporting industrial recovery. Energy Week, scheduled for June 24th to June 26th in Kinshasa, is organized by the Electricity Regulatory Authority. ACP/