The Republic of the Congo has launched a study to assess the electricity supply needs of its special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial facilities, as rising demand and supply constraints affect manufacturers.
Michel Djombo, the country’s Minister of Industrial Development, SEZs and Private Sector Promotion, launched the initiative. It will be supervised by the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics, implemented by the National Agency for Rural Electrification and supported technically by the United Nations Development Programme.
The assessment will compare four approaches to serving industrial electricity demand: solar generation paired with battery storage; biomass and cogeneration using agricultural, forestry and agro-industrial residues; connections to the national grid where available; and hybrid energy systems.
The options are being compared as alternative supply choices. The assessment is intended to match supply solutions to rising industrial demand.
Beyond technology choice, the study is expected to establish a pricing benchmark for energy solutions in the Congolese industrial market. That benchmark would give industrial customers and suppliers a reference point as the country weighs different supply models.
At the launch event, Djombo questioned solar electricity offers priced between XAF 130 ($0.22) and XAF 150/kWh, describing some as opportunistic. He said international comparisons would help establish fair and sustainable pricing.
The minister also highlighted the cost of relying on diesel generators when electricity supply is disrupted. Electricity generated that way can reach almost XAF 200/kWh, he said.
Supply constraints are already affecting industrial operators, according to Djombo, with some companies reportedly having to suspend production lines. Even with high diesel costs, some industrial operators remain reluctant to commit to alternative energy solutions and are waiting for market conditions to become clearer, he added.
The initiative will also examine commercial arrangements for supplying industrial customers. These include turnkey installations financed directly by businesses, financing services for equipment purchases and the introduction of independent power producers. For industrial customers, these structures differ in who carries upfront capital and plant operation risk: direct business financing, equipment finance, or an independent producer selling power. The study is expected to identify bankable projects capable of attracting public and private investment.
Data from the Africa Solar Industry Association’s project database identifies 35.6 MW of operational solar in the Republic of the Congo to date. Of that total, 27 MW is listed as unidentified commercial and industrial (C&I) projects.