In 2023, electricity consumption in Congo-Kinshasa primarily relies on low-carbon sources, with hydropower accounting for the lion's share of production, generating close to 14 TWh. Solar energy contributes a smaller portion with just over 2 TWh. Interestingly, net imports supplement domestic generation by slightly over 1 TWh. When evaluating the total electricity consumption per person, which stands at 164 kWh, it's starkly lower than the global average of 3649 kWh/person. This significant gap suggests that Congo-Kinshasa faces challenges in meeting the electricity demands of its population, potentially stunting economic growth and limiting access to modern conveniences and technologies, which rely heavily on a consistent power supply.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Congo - Kinshasa?
Looking at the historical trajectory, electricity consumption in Congo-Kinshasa has stagnated, decreasing slightly from the peak of 166 kWh/person in 1989 to 164 kWh/person in 2023. This decline also reflects in low-carbon electricity generation, which fell from a previous height of 163 kWh/person in 1989 to 150 kWh/person in 2023. These figures highlight a concerning lack of growth in low-carbon electricity generation, which is crucial for sustainable development and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The stagnation in both overall and low-carbon electricity generation indicates an urgent need for strategic initiatives to boost clean energy production and access across the country.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Congo-Kinshasa could expand its solar capabilities, already showing promise as a clean energy contributor. The country can learn from successful regions, such as China, which has seen considerable solar generation at 1117 TWh, and India, which demonstrates growing solar capacity with 157 TWh. Integrating lessons from these regions could uplift Congo-Kinshasa's solar infrastructure. Furthermore, incorporating insights from countries with substantial nuclear energy usage, such as the United States (781 TWh) and France (369 TWh), can offer pathways to diversify energy sources beyond solar by tapping into nuclear energy's potential for reliable and large-scale low-carbon power generation.
History
Examining the history of low-carbon electricity in Congo-Kinshasa, particularly during the late 20th century, reveals fluctuating hydroelectric output. While the early 1990s saw some years of modest increments in hydropower, the late 1990s and early 2000s featured more consistent growth, with intermittent declines. Notably, the period from 2018 to 2021 marked a more encouraging trend, with the most substantial increases in hydropower—including an impressive additive change of 1.1 TWh in 2021. This upward momentum, coupled with the promising introduction of solar capacities in 2021 and subsequent years, suggests potential for strengthening the clean energy mix if further supported by robust policy and investment strategies.
