Haut-Katanga: A new case of theft of 250 metres of electricity cable

Kinshasa, May 27^th, 2025 (CPA).- A new act of vandalism has hit the infrastructure of the National Electricity Company, with 250 meters of bare copper conductor ripped off during the night of May 26^th to 27^th in the province of Haut-Katanga (south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo), according to a press release sent to the CPA on Tuesday. ‘The National Electricity Company (Snel) is once again sounding the alarm in the face of the upsurge in acts of vandalism that are dangerously threatening the integrity of its infrastructure. During the night of 26 to 27 May, uncivilized individuals struck again, stealing 250 meters of bare copper conductors’, read the Snel press release.

The source explained that the 250 meters of bare copper conductors were ripped out of the RC-Shilatembo 120 kV high-voltage line, between pylons P84 and P85. ‘An entire phase of the network has been affected, jeopardizing electricity distribution in the region’, added the source.

The company condemned these criminal acts, which are not only hampering economic development, but also endangering high-voltage equipment, field operatives and the local population. Specialized teams have been dispatched to the site to carry out the repair work and restore power to the network as quickly as possible. This act of sabotage comes just a few days after another massive theft on the same strategic Likasi-Lubumbashi route, where 500 meters of copper cables were stolen, dealing a heavy blow to energy transit and industrial activities, particularly those of COMILU, one of Snel’s main customers.

The company has called on the authorities to step up surveillance of the installations and has urged the public to be vigilant in reporting any suspicious behavior near the power infrastructure, which could be decisive in stopping these acts of sabotage. ‘This umpteenth act of vandalism highlights once again the major challenges faced by Snel in its mission to supply the country with electricity, despite an increasingly hostile environment’, lamented the Congolese public operator.