Kinshasa, 21–23 October 2025
Since 2021, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE) has been actively involved in the African studies on the Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) conducted under the leadership of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Under the leadership of the CEO, Prof. Dr. Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula, ARE has consistently advocated for technical and institutional support from the AfDB to strengthen regulatory governance in the Congolese electricity sector.
This strategic engagement has produced tangible results: the DRC’s ERI score improved from 0.377 in 2021 to 0.603 in 2024, representing a remarkable 60% increase.
The Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI) is a composite indicator that assesses the maturity of electricity regulatory frameworks across African countries in line with international norms and best practices. It is based on three key pillars:
- Regulatory Governance Index (RGI),
- Regulatory Substance Index (RSI), and
- Regulatory Outcomes Index (ROI).
Recognizing the progress achieved by ARE and willing to support the country in consolidating these gains, the African Development Bank has provided technical and financial assistance to the Electricity Regulatory Authority through the African Energy Sector Technical Assistance Programme (AESTAP-RDC).
The programme focuses on two priority objectives:
- Strengthening economic regulation, through an in-depth Cost of Service Study for the DRC and the update of the national tariff methodology applicable to both public and private operators;
- Improving technical regulation, through the development of a national grid code enabling better integration of mini-grids into the main electricity system.
As part of this initiative, the Deputy CEO of ARE, Me Marco KUYU, hosted in Kinshasa a high-level AfDB delegation led by Mr. Nirina Letsara, Principal Energy Statistician at the AfDB, and Mr. Pierre Étienne, head of Phoenix Consulting, the firm responsible for the technical execution of the project on behalf of ARE.
During the project launch meeting, the Deputy CEO officially inaugurated the AESTAP-RDC project, outlining ARE’s institutional expectations regarding the tariff study and technical regulation.
This kickoff meeting met the following objectives to:
- Clarify the operational objectives of the project;
- Ensure alignment between the consultant’s activities and national sector priorities;
- Define the roles and responsibilities of involved institutions (ARE, MRHE, ANSER, etc.);
- Refine the intervention methodology; and
- Establish mechanisms for monitoring, validation, and communication of the deliverables.
This project represents a significant milestone in modernizing electricity regulation in the DRC, strengthening ARE’s role as an institutional and technical pillar of the national energy reform. It is also expected to enhance tariff transparency, improve the quality of electricity services, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.
