The Republic of the Congo has begun a study examining the electricity supply needs of its special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial facilities, an initiative intended to assess suitable supply solutions as the country's electricity demand rises.
Michel Djombo, the country's Minister of Industrial Development, SEZs and Private Sector Promotion, launched the work earlier this week. The study will be conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics and implemented by the National Agency for Rural Electrification, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme.
Four supply options under comparison
The assessment will compare four potential approaches to meeting 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 capacity is available; and hybrid energy systems that combine several sources. The comparison is intended to match supply options to the country's growing industrial electricity needs.
Beyond technology selection, the study is expected to establish a pricing benchmark for energy solutions in the Congolese industrial market, giving buyers and suppliers a common reference for comparing offers.
Minister questions solar pricing
Speaking at the launch event, Djombo questioned solar electricity offers priced between XAF 130 ($0.22) and XAF 150/kWh, describing some of them 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 supply is disrupted, noting that electricity generated this way can reach almost XAF 200/kWh.
Supply constraints are already affecting industrial operators, according to Djombo, with some companies reportedly having to suspend production lines. Despite the high cost of diesel, he said some industrial users remain reluctant to commit to alternative energy solutions and are waiting for market conditions to become clearer.
Commercial models and bankable projects
The initiative also plans to examine different commercial arrangements for supplying industrial customers, including turnkey installations financed directly by businesses, financing services for equipment purchases and the introduction of independent power producers. These commercial questions form part of the study's scope rather than decisions already taken. The work is also expected to identify bankable projects capable of attracting public and private investment.
According to figures in the project database of the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), the Republic of the Congo has 35.6 MW of operational solar to date, of which 27 MW is listed as unidentified commercial and industrial (C&I) projects. That breakdown indicates that a large share of the recorded capacity appears in the database as C&I installations.