RDC-ANGOLA-CONGO 400 kV Interconnection Project: ARE Hosts Experts from COWATER, PEAC, and SNEL

As part of the regional electricity interconnection project between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and the Republic of Congo, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE), led by its CEO, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula, met on June 23, 2025, with a joint delegation of experts from Cowater International, the Central African Power Pool (PEAC), and a representative of SNEL SA.

Held at the ARE headquarters in Gombe, Kinshasa, this meeting provided a fruitful platform for technical and institutional discussions around the project’s main components and the expectations toward the Congolese Regulator.
“We came to ARE today to present the project and gather key information necessary for the implementation of this major initiative involving three countries: Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo-Brazzaville,” said François Amougou, Environmental Expert at PEAC.

The primary objective of the meeting was to present the progress made on the feasibility study for a 400 kV electricity transmission line aimed at connecting the power grids of the countries. The large-scale project includes two main corridors: Corridor 1 linking Pointe-Noire (Congo) – Cabinda (Angola) – Inga (DRC), and Corridor 2 linking Pointe-Noire (Congo) – Maluku (Congo) – Kinshasa (DRC).

The Project Team Leader, Mr. Léonce Fosso, accompanied by several sectoral experts, presented the timeline for key deliverables already underway. According to the timeline, following the kick-off meeting in January 2025, where the initial report was validated, a validation workshop for the data collection report will be held on July 10, 2025. The next steps include submission of the feasibility report in August 2025, followed by the delivery of the Preliminary Design Report (PDR) in October.

Mr. Léonce Fosso also confirmed that geotechnical teams will soon be deployed to conduct foundation studies for the towers—an essential step in the technical design of the infrastructure. The delegation also requested access to the electricity tariff structure applied in DRC, as well as the regulatory texts currently in force.

In response, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula, CEO of ARE, explained that all official documents are freely accessible via the ARE website (https://are.gouv.cd). A live demonstration allowed visitors to navigate the platform and access laws, decrees, tariff orders, and other regulatory tools.

Recognizing the strategic importance of this regional initiative, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga proposed a more in-depth technical meeting in the coming weeks to further analyze the tariff and regulatory aspects.

She also took the opportunity to share her recent experience at an international conference in Cape Town, South Africa, which brought together ministers of energy, directors general of electricity sectors, 25 African regulators, and international technical and financial partners. According to Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, this momentum highlights the importance of interregional cooperation in accelerating major infrastructure projects.

A delegation seeking the expertise of ARE

The meeting concluded in a spirit of cooperation, underscoring a shared commitment to sustainable and regulated regional energy integration.
“Our impressions are very positive after the meeting with the CEO of ARE and her team. We received a lot of information, we were warmly welcomed, and we hope that this collaboration will continue in the same spirit of openness and cordiality,” concluded Mr. Amougou.

During the discussions, ARE was represented by its CEO, Dr.Sandrine Mubenga, the Deputy CEO Me Marco Kuyu, Technical Director Mr. Daddy Mbombo, Operators’ Focal Point Mr. Gilbert Kajabika, and other technical experts. The Cowater team was led by Mr. Léonce Fosso (Project Leader), while Mr. François Amougou represented PEAC and Mrs. Leya Numbi, Head of Socio-Environmental Services, represented SNEL SA.

COMMUNICATION / ARE