The use of micro hydroelectric power plants is an appropriate solution to boost the local economy in the hinterland. The issue was at the centre of discussions as part of the work of the National Civil Society Forum on Energy in the DRC, which is being held at the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP) in Kinshasa.

Indeed, the coordinator of the mini and micro power plant project, Jules Kikanda, demonstrated the advantages that the use of this solution offers for the development of the economy from the bottom up.

Among these advantages, he mentioned: the available potential of 890 sites identified in the Atlas of Renewable Energies throughout the country; the rapid development of micro-power projects (less than two years); and the creation of jobs from the beginning of the project and throughout the duration of the project.

Consequently, micro and pico hydroelectric power projects have a positive impact on the socio-economic and environmental life of the populations.

« On the local economy, micro-power plants contribute to the development of small agricultural processing units and their conservation; to the creation of employment and the alleviation of manual labour hardship through the progressive use of machines running on electricity and the conservation of food or the production of cold, » Jules Kikanda stressed.

From the social point of view, he continued, this solution contributes to the supply of electrical energy, particularly to hospitals, with the aim of enabling the use of modern equipment and improving the quality of health care offered to patients in remote areas. But also the provision of public lighting facilitates the fight against insecurity.

« Providing electricity to schools will improve the quality of education and thus help schoolchildren to access new information technologies in their learning, » said Jules Kikanda.

Finally, the electrical energy produced by the micro-power plants contributes to reducing the use of firewood for cooking and encourages the preservation of the forest.

The National Civil Society Forum on Energy in the DRC is being held from 11 to 13 September 2019 with the theme « What energy model for community development? »

Agnès KAYEMBE