AfDB granted the Democratic Republic of Congo $11 million to support its Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP) which aims to boost electrification in not only DRC but in Nile basin neighboring nations as well. Electrification rate in the region ranges between 2 and 17%, for a demand of 115 MW.

To overcome this shortcoming, DRC will build as part of the NELSAP, two 220 kV transmission lines, one between Goma and Bukavu, and another between Goma and Giseny. Two sub-stations will be built in Buhandahanda and Goma to support these lines.

Besides improving access to electricity, the project will help cut cost of power. “In DRC, the project will help increase power supply, mainly hydropower, and reduce cost for private production of energy,” said Alex Rugamba, Head of AfDB’s environment, climate change and energy division.

It should be recalled that in DRC, out of the 15% of the country’s population which has access to power, 85% experiences regular power shortages.

The project was co-funded by the AfDB, the European Union, Netherlands, the government of Germany and the German development bank, KfW, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Swedish agency.