DRC: ACERD expects renewable energy investment opportunities

The Congolese Association for Renewable and Decentralized Energy (ACERD) is organizing, from 02 to 03 July 2019, in partnership with ELAN RDC, a forum on investment opportunities in renewable energies. Its Chairman of the Board, Denis Banlier, spoke of three goals for holding these meetings.

First, the need to bring energy sector players together under one roof. These include investors, public authorities, sector operators, donors and NGOs in the sector.

Then, the usefulness to discuss on the challenges and opportunities of investment of the sector of the energy, this sector which is not yet very exploited in the DRC. And finally, the importance for these exchanges to serve as a bridge between donors and potential Congolese and foreign investors.

Four panels are chosen by the organizers to achieve the three objectives of this meeting. The first deals with opportunities and prospects for development in renewable energies; the second will go down on the business climate, renewable energies; the third is investment in the renewable energy sector; and the last one deals with consumer credit for renewable energies.

As for development opportunities in renewable energies, Maximilien Munga from the Coordination and Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the DRC represents a great opportunity in this sector.

Speaking of the existence of a national electrification master plan for the country, he examined the energy assets of the DRC:
– 82000MW of solar potential including 3.5-5.5kWh / m2 / day of average solar radiation;
– 100000MW of energy potential, of which 97285 MW is 97.3% of the total undeveloped potential;
– 15000MW of undeveloped wind potential;
– 60-140MW of biomass potential from agricultural residues that can supply between 80000 and 160000 households.

Faced with such great potential, we just have to combine a good business climate to attract and reassure both Congolese and foreign investors. Task to which the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI) is working.

The representative of the European Union at these meetings has identified some conditions to be met to talk about a good business climate. According to him, this is a reasonable macroeconomic environment, an improved business climate, information on human capital, the regulation of pricing and taxation and the stability of the country.

For his part, Michel EBOMA ABLAVI, Senior Adviser to the Head of State in charge of Mines and Energy, reassured that this sector is in the center of the interests of Felix Tshisekedi.

He promised to focus on improving the country’s low electricity rate. Hence, the sense of holding, in the coming days, a forum on the energy sector in one of the cities of the DRC.

Denis Banlier has finally reassured potential investors that lenders have made available 1 billion US dollars to finance the energy sector. They just have to overcome the constraints to access this funding to meet the 7th clean and affordable sustainable development goal.

The agenda of the day of 3 July provides a presentation of companies and projects in the renewable energy sector and B2B meeting between actors and donors.

The Congolese Association for Renewable and Decentralized Energy is an independent non-profit organization working in the renewable energy industry in the DRC.

Its major role is to promote sustainable development solutions and techniques through products and services in order to create viable and sustainable markets by promoting compliance with standards and norms.

Nadine FULA