Kinshasa, July 14th, 2026 (CPA).- The Deputy Director-General of the Control Office of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reaffirmed the commitment to promoting the adoption of International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) standards, as part of efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation, according to a press release from this public body seen by the CPA on Tuesday.
“Ms Christelle Muabilu reaffirmed the OCC’s commitment, in its capacity as Secretariat of the National Electro-technical Committee (IEC), to promoting the adoption of IEC international standards, strengthening national capacities and contributing to the emergence of a modern, reliable, secure and competitive electricity sector in the service of the DRC’s economic development,” the statement read.
According to the source, this initiative forms part of efforts to consolidate the partnership between the IEC, the OCC and SNEL, with a view to increasing Congolese participation in the IEC’s work and promoting the harmonization of electro-technical standards in support of the sustainable development of the national electricity sector.
For his part, Mr François Yapo, Regional Director for Africa at the IEC, quoted in the press release, praised the DRC’s efforts towards electro-technical standardization. He reiterated that international standards are a key driver of industrialization, the safety of electrical installations, innovation and the energy transition, highlighting the Congo’s immense potential in the energy and mining sectors. Mr Yapo also encouraged the country to continue strengthening its National Electro-technical Committee and to take the next step by becoming a full member of the IEC – an essential prerequisite for participating fully in the development of international standards, enhancing its appeal to investors and accelerating its industrial and technological development.
This session enabled the IEC delegation to assess the technical capabilities of both institutions, as well as the efforts undertaken by the DRC in the areas of quality control, conformity assessment and electro technical standardization, the source reported.
The first day’s proceedings continued with a technical visit to the laboratories of the National Electricity Company, before concluding at the OCC’s technical testing laboratory.
The meeting, held on July 13th,–14th, 2026 in Kinshasa, was attended by, amongst others, the IEC’s Regional Director for Africa, the Chair of the OCC’s Board of Directors, the Deputy General-Director of the Congolese Control Office (OCC) and the representative of the General-Director of the National Electricity Company (SNEL). ACP/