Energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Encyclopedia
Energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CDR) describes energy
and electricity
production, consumption and import in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. Energy policy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will describe the politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
related to energy more in detail.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was net energy exporter in 2008. However, most energy was consumed domestically in 2008. According to the IEA
statistics the energy export was in 2008 small and less than from the Republic of Congo. 2010 population figures were 3.8 million for the RC compared to CDR 67.8 Million. In both countries journalists and media were threatened by the authorities.
Human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
have influenced the energy markets and economy
. On 1 October 2010 the UN reported on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the DRC between March 1993 and June 2003. The report raised hopes of justice for crimes. In the International Criminal Court
(ICC) are cases against using children under the age of 15 for the armed group and against ex Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba
charged with crimes against humanity.
, natural gas
, coal
, and a potential hydroelectric power generating capacity of around 100,000 MW. The Inga Dam
, alone on the Congo River
, has the potential capacity to generate 40,000 to 45,000 MW of electric power, sufficient to supply the electricity needs of the whole Southern Africa region. However, ongoing uncertainties in the political arena, and a resulting lack of interest from investors has meant that the Inga dam's potential has been limited. In 2001, the dam was estimated to have an installed generating capacity of 2,473 MW. But, it is estimated that the dam is capable of producing no more than 650–750 MW, because two-thirds of the facility's turbines do not work. There are plans to raise the Inga power station to 44,000 MW capacity by 2010. The African Development bank has agreed to supply $8 million towards it. The government has also agreed to strength the Inga-kolwezi and Inga-South Africa interconnections and to construct a 2nd power line to supply power to Kinshasa.
In 2007, the DROC had a gross production of public and self-produced electricity of 8,302 million kWh. The DROC imported 78 million kWh of electricity in 2007. The DROC is also an exporter of electric power. In 2003, electric power exports came to 1.3 TWh, with power transmitted to the Republic of Congo and its capital, Brazzaville
, as well as to Zambia
and South Africa
. There is are plant to build the Western Power Corridor (Westcor) to supply electricity from INGA III
hydroelectric power plant to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola
, Namibia
, Botswana
and South Africa
.
The national power company is Société nationale d'électricité (SNEL)
.
Only 7% of the country has access to electricity. As of 2003, 98.2% of electricity was produced by hydroelectric power.
's in southern Africa. As of 2009, the DROC’s crude oil reserves came to 180 Moilbbl. In 2008, the DROC produced 19960 barrels (3,173.4 m³) of oil per day and consumed 11000 oilbbl/d. As of 2007, the DROC exported 20090 oilbbl/d and imported 11350 oilbbl/d. In 2007, the DROC produced 836,000 metric tons of crude petroleum, exported 836,000 metric tons and had a reserve of 25,000,000 metric tons. However, the DROC had no refining capacity as of January 1, 2005, and must import refined petroleum products. In 2002, imports of refined petroleum products totaled 8180 oilbbl/d. Oil product imports consist of gasoline
, jet fuel
, kerosene
, aviation gas, fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas. Oil products are exported and imported by Cohydro
. As of 2008, the DROC had natural gas reserves of 991.1 million cu m. There was no production, consumption or importation or exportation of natural gas.
Galaxy Moriah Oil is the government contracted supplier of oil for the DROC.
reserves of 97 million short tons. Domestic coal production and consumption in 2003 totaled 0.11 million short tons and 0.26 million shorts tons, respectively.
World energy resources and consumption
]World energy consumption in 2010: over 5% growthEnergy markets have combined crisis recovery and strong industry dynamism. Energy consumption in the G20 soared by more than 5% in 2010, after the slight decrease of 2009. This strong increase is the result of two converging trends...
and electricity
Electricity generation
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.The fundamental principles of electricity generation were discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientist Michael Faraday...
production, consumption and import in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. Energy policy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will describe the politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Politics of the Democratic Republic of Congo take place in a framework of a republic in transition from a civil war to a semi-presidential democratic republic....
related to energy more in detail.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was net energy exporter in 2008. However, most energy was consumed domestically in 2008. According to the IEA
IEA
IEA can stand for several different things, such as those listed here:* Institute of Economic Affairs* Institute of International and European Affairs, formerly the Institute of European Affairs* Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Moscow...
statistics the energy export was in 2008 small and less than from the Republic of Congo. 2010 population figures were 3.8 million for the RC compared to CDR 67.8 Million. In both countries journalists and media were threatened by the authorities.
Human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In all areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the human rights record remained poor, and numerous serious abuses were committed. Unlawful killings, disappearances, torture, rape, and arbitrary arrest and detention by security forces increased during the year, and the transitional government...
have influenced the energy markets and economy
Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sparsely populated in relation to its area, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to a vast potential of natural resources and mineral wealth, its untapped deposits of raw minerals are estimated to be worth in excess of US$ 24 trillion, yet the economy of the DRC has declined drastically...
. On 1 October 2010 the UN reported on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the DRC between March 1993 and June 2003. The report raised hopes of justice for crimes. In the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
(ICC) are cases against using children under the age of 15 for the armed group and against ex Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba
Jean-Pierre Bemba
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 17 July 2003 to December 2006. Bemba also leads the Movement for the Liberation of Congo , a rebel group...
charged with crimes against humanity.
Electricity
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reserves of petroleumPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, and a potential hydroelectric power generating capacity of around 100,000 MW. The Inga Dam
Inga Dam
The Inga Dams, located in western Democratic Republic of the Congo 140 miles southwest of Kinshasa, are hydroelectric dams on the largest waterfalls in the world, Inga Falls. Here the Congo River drops 96 metres and has an average flow of 42,476 m³/s....
, alone on the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
, has the potential capacity to generate 40,000 to 45,000 MW of electric power, sufficient to supply the electricity needs of the whole Southern Africa region. However, ongoing uncertainties in the political arena, and a resulting lack of interest from investors has meant that the Inga dam's potential has been limited. In 2001, the dam was estimated to have an installed generating capacity of 2,473 MW. But, it is estimated that the dam is capable of producing no more than 650–750 MW, because two-thirds of the facility's turbines do not work. There are plans to raise the Inga power station to 44,000 MW capacity by 2010. The African Development bank has agreed to supply $8 million towards it. The government has also agreed to strength the Inga-kolwezi and Inga-South Africa interconnections and to construct a 2nd power line to supply power to Kinshasa.
In 2007, the DROC had a gross production of public and self-produced electricity of 8,302 million kWh. The DROC imported 78 million kWh of electricity in 2007. The DROC is also an exporter of electric power. In 2003, electric power exports came to 1.3 TWh, with power transmitted to the Republic of Congo and its capital, Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, as well as to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. There is are plant to build the Western Power Corridor (Westcor) to supply electricity from INGA III
Inga Dam
The Inga Dams, located in western Democratic Republic of the Congo 140 miles southwest of Kinshasa, are hydroelectric dams on the largest waterfalls in the world, Inga Falls. Here the Congo River drops 96 metres and has an average flow of 42,476 m³/s....
hydroelectric power plant to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The national power company is Société nationale d'électricité (SNEL)
Société nationale d'électricité (SNEL)
Société nationale d'électricité is the national electricity company of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its head office building is located in the district of La Gombe in the capital city, Kinshasa. SNEL operates the Inga Dam facility on the Congo River, and also operates thermal power...
.
Only 7% of the country has access to electricity. As of 2003, 98.2% of electricity was produced by hydroelectric power.
Petroleum
The DROC has crude oil reserves that are second only to AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
's in southern Africa. As of 2009, the DROC’s crude oil reserves came to 180 Moilbbl. In 2008, the DROC produced 19960 barrels (3,173.4 m³) of oil per day and consumed 11000 oilbbl/d. As of 2007, the DROC exported 20090 oilbbl/d and imported 11350 oilbbl/d. In 2007, the DROC produced 836,000 metric tons of crude petroleum, exported 836,000 metric tons and had a reserve of 25,000,000 metric tons. However, the DROC had no refining capacity as of January 1, 2005, and must import refined petroleum products. In 2002, imports of refined petroleum products totaled 8180 oilbbl/d. Oil product imports consist of gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, jet fuel
Jet fuel
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...
, kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
, aviation gas, fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas. Oil products are exported and imported by Cohydro
Cohydro
Cohydro is a company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that is involved in the import, export and distribution of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, for commercial and industrial uses...
. As of 2008, the DROC had natural gas reserves of 991.1 million cu m. There was no production, consumption or importation or exportation of natural gas.
Galaxy Moriah Oil is the government contracted supplier of oil for the DROC.
Coal
As of July 2005, the DROC is reported to have coalCoal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
reserves of 97 million short tons. Domestic coal production and consumption in 2003 totaled 0.11 million short tons and 0.26 million shorts tons, respectively.