AfDB partners with ARE, the DRC regulator, to strengthen the electricity sector

AfDB partners with ARE, the DRC regulator, to strengthen the electricity sector

ARE lobbying under the leadership of Dr Sandrine Mubenga produce results

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE) will collaborate with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to strengthen the electricity sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). AfDB has published a notice of expression of interest for the recruitment of a consultancy firm to strengthen the regulatory framework in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries namely Djibouti, Madagascar and Lesotho. This call for tenders is part of the technical assistance program in the energy sector in a multinational Africa (Multinational AESTAP I). It is important to note that the AfDB’s technical assistance to the DRC will focus on economic regulation, which will involve: (i) undertaking a cost of service study (CoSS) and (ii) putting in place a tariff review framework (methodology and Excel models) used to determine single and multi-year tariffs (MYT) and (ii) building capacity on the elements of the CoSS and on tariff setting in various areas. In addition, this technical assistance will also address Technical Regulation which will consist of: (i) developing a grid connection policy describing the requirements and procedures for connecting new generation sources or consumers to the electricity grid (transmission and distribution), including the quality of service required by the respective utilities; (ii) providing training to the staff of the regulator and other utilities on the application of the grid connection policy. Validation workshops will also be organized to validate deliverables with stakeholders.

The result of efficient management

This technical assistance from the AfDB is the result of the sustained interactions and advocacy of the Chief Executive Officer of ARE, Professor Doctor Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula who succeeded in convincing the AfDB authorities of the importance of supporting the energy sector of the DRC whose development in the years to come will be exponential. This lobbying work took more than two years to persuade the AfDB of the technical and economic benefits of this technical assistance for the DRC and the continent more generally.

This activity is in line with the capacity building initiative organized by ARE from December 9 to 11, 2024, at the Hilton Hotel in Kinshasa, in collaboration with COMESA (Common Market for Southern Africa) and which focused on mini-grid tariff modeling. For this activity, ARE had associated key players in the sector in the DRC, including state institutions, private operators, and representatives of civil society.

About ARE

ARE is the DRC’s Electricity Regulatory Authority, whose main missions are to ensure access to the network, protect consumers and regulate the electricity sector. It is a public institution under the masterly management of Doctor, Professor and Engineer Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula. It should be noted that since ARE became operational, the Congolese electricity balance sheet has changed. In terms of national electricity supply, the annual production in 2020 was 12460 GWh and, in 2023, this production has risen to 15800 GWh. An increase of more than 22%.

For more information about the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Electricity Regulatory Authority, click www.are.gouv.cd

For more information about the expression of interest from the African Development Bank, click: https://www.afdb.org/en/consultants/eoi-strengthen-regulatory-frameworks-african-electricity-sector-case-studies-djibouti-drc-madagascar-and-lesotho-pesr-79984

ARE/COMMUNICATION