Inga dam with run-of-river power plants in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Core area: Climate and energy, just transition Paths towards sustainable energy

    The DR Congo has enormous resources that can be tapped for renewable energy. Nevertheless, large parts of the population are still largely cut off from the electricity supply. At the same time, the pressure on national forests is growing, since traditional fuels like charcoal are used to meet daily energy needs. Linking sustainable energy generation with the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiverse ecosystems is therefore at the heart of current German development cooperation with the DR Congo.

    With around 77 million people who are without access to electricity, the DR Congo is one of the countries in the world with the biggest supply deficits. In rural areas, the share of people with access to electricity is around two per cent.

    Since, for the majority of the population, alternative sources of energy are lacking, there is high demand for traditional fuels like charcoal. Over 90 percent of people use charcoal for their energy supply, which massively increases the pressure on forest resources. The production of charcoal is a significant factor in driving logging – in urban regions and their peripheries in particular, considerable quantities of timber are needed every year to meet the demand for charcoal. Unless sustainable alternatives are found, it is currently predicted that about a quarter of the forests in the Congo Basin will be lost by 2050. This would not only mean the loss of habitats for many animal species, it would also mean the loss of a significant carbon sink, with far-reaching consequences for the global climate.


    Objectives of the measures

    The measures are not only aimed at protecting the climate and the environment, they are also about creating better living conditions for the local population. That is why, in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema, the focus is on making the production and use of charcoal more environmentally friendly, as it is one of the most important sources of energy in this region. At the same time, the rehabilitation of the Inga II hydropower plant along with its switchgear is intended to ensure that more electricity is fed into the national grid and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

    Processes and priority areas

    • The BMZ is promoting power supply and infrastructure through the renewal of the switchgear and substations of the Inga I and Inga II hydropower stations. This will mean that the power generated at these two plants can be sent safely and with minimal loss to a large part of the DR Congo and also fed into the Southern African Power Pool. The modernisation work will create the basis for a reliable and environmentally friendly power supply.

    • In order to promote energy-efficient technologies, local production capacities for improved cookstoves are being developed in the region. These stoves use significantly less charcoal, meaning that vulnerable households are able to lower their energy costs. At the same time, new jobs are created – and the pressure on the forests is reduced.

    • The sustainable production of charcoal is also being stepped up: in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema, new regulatory and economic set-ups are creating better conditions for the future-proof production and use of charcoal. Local cooperatives and small-scale producers that produce charcoal using climate-smart methods are receiving support. This support covers aspects such as tax exemptions, more efficient kiln technologies and using timber from sustainable sources.

    As at: 26/11/2025