Electricity in Congo - Kinshasa in 2022

In 2022, the electricity consumption in Congo - Kinshasa is significantly lower than the global average. The country generated about 11 TWh from hydropower, which forms almost all of its low-carbon electricity. An additional 1.41 TWh of electricity was imported. Compared to the global average of 3606 watts per person, the electricity generation in Congo - Kinshasa is a tiny fraction of that, indicating a considerable deficit. This low level of electricity generation can hamper various aspects of development, from industrial growth to healthcare services, and severely limit the quality of life for its residents due to insufficient electricity availability.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Congo - Kinshasa could look to successful examples from other countries. For instance, the People's Republic of China has developed vast capacities in wind and solar energy, generating 950 TWh and 653 TWh respectively. These sectors can be scaled fairly quickly and could complement the existing hydropower framework in Congo - Kinshasa. Additionally, countries like Brazil have capitalized on their wind resources to produce 97 TWh of clean electricity. Investing in both solar and wind energy could offer economic resilience and improve energy security, drawing on the technological and infrastructural strategies utilized by these countries.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Congo - Kinshasa has been somewhat volatile, predominantly revolving around hydropower. During the late 1980s, there was modest growth with net increases until 1992, followed by some declines in the mid-1990s. Significant fluctuations continued, with notable setbacks such as in 1997 (-1.1 TWh) and in 2008 (-0.3 TWh), reflecting an unstable energy sector. However, the last decade shows signs of recovery, with consistent gains in hydropower output, particularly in 2018 (+1.1 TWh) and 2020 (+0.9 TWh). Nevertheless, the erratic nature of these changes suggests a need for broader diversification into other low-carbon sources like nuclear, wind, and solar to stabilize and increase the overall electricity production.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources