Archives de l’auteur Emmanuel Musuyi

After definitively settling the electricity distribution conflicts between the operators working in the City of Goma, namely SNEL SA, SOCODEE SA, VIRUNGA ENERGIES SAU, and NURU SASU, a delegation from the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE), dispatched by its Chief Executive Officer, Professor Sandrine MUBENGA NGALULA, carried out an official mission from November 17  to 21 , 2024 in order to execute Decision No. 2024-002-CCARE issued by the ARE on August 13, 2024.

The Director of Provincial Representations of ARE, Pascal TSHIMBALANGA MUYEMBE, explains:  « Our presence in Goma follows several missions we conducted in the past. Indeed, ARE had inherited a conflict of perimeters even before its installation in 2020. In order to solve the issue, ARE applied the principle of exclusivity of electricity distribution perimeters enshrined in Law No. 14/011 of June 17, 2014, of the Electricity Sector in order to eradicate the mess observed in the City of Goma for almost a decade. »

The delegation of ARE stated that their mission had two components: the preparations for the establishment of the Steering Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Decision rendered by the ARE, and the evaluation of the operators’ activities as well as the level of the customers’ satisfaction.

During this mission, ARE will examine the issue of the electricity distribution plan in the City of Goma. It is worth noting that there is a Consumer’s Unit within ARE which is dedicated to addressing conflicts between consumers and their electricity suppliers.

Prior to the meeting with the various electricity sector operators to discuss the thorny issue of perimeters, the delegation of ARE conducted a site visit of operator’s facilities. They met the leaders of NURU SASU, SNEL SA, SOCODEE SA and VIRUNGA ENERGIES SAU.

Regarding the establishment of the platform responsible for resolving perimeter conflicts, Mr. Pascal TSHIMBALANGA stated: « It was a closing meeting of the preparatory activities for the establishment of the Steering Committee. We discussed with the operators and all the other inter-state stakeholders on the format, the structure, the bodies and the modalities of operation of this permanent consultation framework. »

Several compromises were found. « The operators who were present were satisfied, they approved this approach and adhered to it. Prior to their implementation, our delegation presented the resolutions of the meeting to the Governor of the North Kivu Province, who is the competent authority of the electricity sector at the level of this province,  » affirmed Director Pascal TSHIMBALANGA.

In addition, the operators shared their outlook with their hosts. « We shared our expectations to see this Steering Committee serve as a framework where the outstanding issues will be resolved in the spirit of serenity necessary for our investments, so that consumers have access to quality electricity service as intended by the law, » said one of the operators.

« We believe that the committee will work adequately and objectively so that we can achieve results that will lead us to harmonization on the perimeter issues that continue to create squabbles between certain operators because some have concession contracts qualified as exclusive, and others do not… If we can meet SOCODEE’s concerns, » reacted Jean-Marie BUKONDO, Lawyer representing the SOCODEE company.

Mr. Pascal TSHIMBALANGA and his team also visited the various operators to inquire about their activities, and this initiative pleased more than one. « It must be said that we are very flattered and very satisfied with this visit by the regulator because the mission that was the subject of our discussions today concerns the decision taken by the regulator to clarify the concession distribution perimeters of each operator. NURU has perfectly adhered to the decision of the regulator., » said a NURU official.

Grateful, the operators did not hide their admiration for the work that ARE is doing. « We have benefited from exceptional support from the regulator in the context of the certification of compliance of our 1.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Goma-Ndosho. Starting from the selection of the independent expert to the execution of the mission on the ground, until we received our certificate of compliance which still reassures us, » declared the official of the NURU Company.

Consumers not forgotten.

In addition to the issues related to perimeters, ARE investigated various matters related to consumers. « We believe, » said Mr. Pascal TSHIMBALANGA, « that it is necessary to reassure all consumers in North Kivu in general and in Goma in particular. The fight led by His Excellency, the President of the Republic and Head of State, Félix TSHISEKEDI TSHILOMBO, to continuously supply each consumer with electricity finds adequate responses with what ARE is doing through the management of its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sandrine MUBENGA. »

ARE/COMMUNICATION

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

La BAD collabore avec l’ARE pour renforcer le secteur de l’électricité en RDC

Le lobbying de l’ARE sous la houlette du Dr Sandrine Mubenga porte des fruits

L’Autorité de Régulation du secteur de l’Electricité (ARE) de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) travaillera en collaboration avec la Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) au renforcement structurel du secteur de l’électricité en RDC. La BAD a publié à cet effet un avis à manifestation d’intérêt pour le recrutement d’un cabinet conseil qui aidera à renforcer le cadre règlementaire du secteur de l’électricité en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) et dans quelques autres pays d’Afrique, notamment le Djibouti, le Madagascar, et le Lesotho. Cette collaboration s’inscrit dans le cadre du Programme d’assistance technique dans le secteur Energétique dans une Afrique multinationale (Multinational AESTAP I). Il importe de préciser que l’assistance technique de la BAD à la RDC portera d’une part sur la Régulation économique qui consistera à : (i) entreprendre une étude du coût du service (CoSS) et (ii) mettre en place un cadre de révision des tarifs (méthodologie et modèles Excel) à utiliser pour la détermination des tarifs mono et pluriannuels (MYT) et enfin (ii) renforcer les capacités sur les éléments du CoSS et sur la fixation des tarifs dans divers domaines. Cette assistance technique se penchera d’autre part sur la Régulation technique qui consistera à  : (i) élaborer une politique de raccordement au réseau décrivant les exigences et les procédures de raccordement de nouvelles sources de production ou de nouveaux consommateurs au réseau électrique (transport et distribution), y compris la qualité de service requise par les services publics respectifs ; (ii) dispenser une formation au personnel du Régulateur et des autres services publics sur l’application de la politique de raccordement au réseau. Des ateliers de validation seront également organisés pour confirmer les livrables avec les parties prenantes.

Résultat d’un management efficient

Cette assistance technique de la BAD est le fruit des interactions et plaidoyers soutenues de la DG de l’ARE, le Professeure Docteur Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula qui a réussi à convaincre les autorités de la BAD de l’importance d’appuyer le secteur énergétique de la RDC dont le développement dans les années à venir sera exponentiel. Ce travail de lobbying a pris plus de deux années afin de persuader la BAD des retombées techniques et économiques de cette assistance technique pour la RDC et le continent plus généralement.

Cette activité s’inscrit en droite ligne de l’initiative de renforcement de capacités organisée par l’ARE du 9 au 11 décembre 2024, à l’hôtel Hilton à Kinshasa, en collaboration avec le COMESA (Marché Commun pour l’Afrique australe) et qui a porté sur la modélisation tarifaire des mini-réseaux. A cette activité, l’ARE avait associé acteurs clés du secteur en RDC, notamment des institutions étatiques, opérateurs privés, et des représentants de la Société civile.

Il convient de rappeler que l’ARE est l’Autorité de Régulation du secteur de l’Electricité en RDC dont les missions essentielles sont l’accès au réseau dans des conditions sécuritaires et à un tarif approuvé, la protection des consommateurs et la régulation des activités du secteur de l’électricité. Un Établissement public dirigée manu maestria par le Docteur, Professeur, Ingénieur Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula. Il est à noter que depuis l’opérationnalisation de l’ARE, le bilan d’énergie électrique congolais a beaucoup évolué. En effet ; en termes d’approvisionnement national en électricité, la production annuelle en 2020 qui était de 12460 GWh est passée à 15800 GWh en 2023, soit une augmentation de plus de 22%.

Pour plus d’information sur l’Autorité de Régulation du secteur de l’Electricité en République Démocratique du Congo, veuillez cliquer sur le lien suivant :  www.are.gouv.cd .

Pour des plus d’informations sur l’avis a manifestation d’intérêt, veuillez cliquer sur le lien suivant : https://www.afdb.org/en/consultants/eoi-strengthen-regulatory-frameworks-african-electricity-sector-case-studies-djibouti-drc-madagascar-and-lesotho-pesr-79984 .

COMMUNICATION / ARE