Core Group Annual Report 2021–2022

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has large energy potential that could greatly improve electricity access for households and the economy. Hydropower from the Congo River and tributaries supports development of large plants, while abundant sunlight makes solar—mini-grids and standalone PV systems—especially promising in rural areas.

Electrification must be tailored to regional needs: industrial areas like the Copperbelt have different demand than small farming zones; waterfall-rich regions suit mini-hydropower, unlike flat, arid areas. Responding to these differences requires assessing local resources and designing context-specific solutions.

To address this, the Belgian NGO Resource Matters launched the Core Group in 2021—a coalition of technical experts from public and private DRC institutions—to identify electrification options for each population center. Members have improved data quality for modeling, aligned models with field realities, and received training across the full modeling process from data collection to scenario development. These efforts produced Congo Epela, a tool that identifies the most affordable electrification options and provides data to stakeholders pursuing equitable, clean, and affordable energy. The Core Group’s work and Congo Epela are supported financially and strategically by the 11th Hour Project.