• Democratic Republic of the Congo commissions a 10.5 MW Kakobola hydropower plant to strengthen electricity supply.
• The project aims to provide power to more than 400,000 inhabitants and support local economic activity.
• The country exploits only 3.2% of its estimated 100 GW hydropower potential, highlighting a major energy gap.

The government inaugurated the Kakobola hydropower plant on March 23 in Gungu territory in Kwilu province. The Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity announced the project.

The plant has an installed capacity of 10.5 megawatts and uses run-of-river hydropower technology. The project integrates generation, transmission and distribution systems. Transmission lines connect the plant to Kikwit, Gungu, Idiofa and surrounding localities.

The infrastructure also includes substations and distribution networks. These systems supply electricity to households, public services and economic activities, the ministry said on X.

Kwilu, 23 mars 2026 — Sous le haut patronage de Son Excellence Monsieur le Président de la République, Chef de l'État, Félix-Antoine TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO, Son Excellence Monsieur Aimé SAKOMBI MOLENDO, Ministre des Ressources Hydrauliques et de l'Électricité, a procédé ce jour à… pic.twitter.com/SlTha9vVK4

— Min. des Ressources Hydrauliques et Électricité (@Min_Resshyd_rdc) March 23, 2026

The Kakobola plant should provide electricity to more than 400,000 inhabitants. Authorities expect the project to stimulate local economic activity, support small and medium-sized enterprises and improve access to basic social services, particularly healthcare and education.

The government positions the project within a broader strategy that aims to make the energy sector “a central lever of economic and social transformation.” Authorities link this objective to efforts to expand national electricity access.

However, structural challenges continue to limit the sector. According to the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the country faces insufficient production capacity, an underdeveloped regulatory framework and low electricity access rates. The regulator estimates the country’s hydropower potential at more than 100 gigawatts. However, operators currently exploit only 3.2% of that capacity.

In response, the government is investing in renewable energy sources, including hydropower, solar, wind and biomass, to diversify the energy mix and expand access.

Data from the Electricity Regulatory Authority show that the number of connected households increased to 1.7 million in 2024 from 1.2 million in 2023. Consequently, the electrification rate rose to 10.3% in 2024 from 7.4% in 2023.

This article was initially published in French by Charlène N’dimon

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum