AfrElec: Nigeria’s Royal Power and Energy plans expansion to DRC

Nigeria’s Royal Power and Energy (RPE) plans to expand its operations into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of its plan to address the country's low electrification rates, The Africa Report writes.

RPE, a renewable energy battery systems expert, has recently registered in the DRC and is planning to commence operations in Kinshasa within this quarter. Initially, RPE will concentrate on selling batteries and solar panels, eventually expanding to include its successful power-as-a-service model from Nigeria, expectedly by 2024.

The DRC has a low electrification rate in Africa and encounters significant energy challenges. The World Bank points out that the country's national grid has not seen significant capacity growth in recent decades.

Nevertheless, the government and the national power company, SNEL, have ambitious plans to raise electricity access to 32% by 2030. They aim to achieve this primarily by harnessing hydroelectric and solar power. The DRC holds great untapped potential in solar and wind energy, estimated at 70 GW. This could offer a cost-effective solution to overcome limitations in the grid.

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