DR Congo, despite its immense wealth from minerals and other natural resources, has been one of the least successful countries in the world at connecting its people to electricity.
Just 21.5% of the population had access to electricity in 2024; connections are virtually non-existent apart from in the Katanga mining belt and in a handful of major cities. Yet new data on solar panel imports suggest there is hope that this dire situation could be starting to change.
Figures published on Thursday by energy think tank Ember show that DR Congo has been Africa's fourth-largest importer of Chinese solar panels over the last year. Solar panel imports totalled $249m, while spending on batteries reached $429m.
Ember estimates that solar installations in DR Congo will increase 544% year-on-year in 2026. It says new solar capacity added this year alone is equivalent to a remarkable 63% of existing grid generation.
Originally published by African Business.