Congo Epela Platform Update
Kinshasa, June 12, 2026
Resource Matters is pleased to announce the update of Congo Epela, an interactive platform that presents practical solutions with concrete scenarios for the electrification of the DRC.
This update comes in a context where electricity demand across the DRC is changing rapidly, from households and small businesses to industry and utilities. In response, Resource Matters and its partners have updated Congo Epela, a platform initially launched in 2022. The platform is a joint effort by Resource Matters, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the University of Cape Town (UCT), the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI), and Congolese civil society organizations that are part of the Mwangaza Network, all working to promote good governance in the sector and universal access to electricity.
Congo Epela compiles and displays data on electricity demand, existing infrastructure, energy potential, and the least-cost electrification options for each region of the DRC. It aims to support better decision-making among government actors, private companies, and civil society by promoting access to fairer, cleaner, and more affordable electricity. The current update was made to reflect more realistic scenarios, taking into account shifts in demand, infrastructure conditions, and technology costs.
The main improvements include the following elements:
- New household electricity demand data provided by the Reiner Lemoine Institut
- Six electrification scenarios modeled using Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET), including business-as-usual, diesel price variations, and tax exemption
- Optimal energy mix for the Eastern and Southwest regions modeled with Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS), with support from the University of Cape Town
- Integration of thermal production plants and wind capacity factor
- Updated solar and hydropower sites based on SHER and other relevant sources
- Updated healthcare facility demand data from GRID3 and Sustainable Energy for All
Thanks to these new features, Congo Epela reinforces its role as a critical tool for building an energy future that benefits the Congolese, by making it easier to identify where investments are most needed, compare electrification options region by region, and plan projects that are technically and economically achievable on the ground.
As an evolving platform that depends on data availability and context, Resource Matters and its partners will continue to update it to ensure optimal and appropriate results.
The next step will be to strengthen sectoral data collection and update modeling scenarios in order to produce increasingly accurate analyses that better reflect realities on the ground.
Despite these challenges, Congo Epela is already an innovative decision-support tool that enables the exploration of different electrification pathways and supports energy planning in the DRC based on objective data and analysis.
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For media inquiries or interviews, please contact:
- Christian Mbenga, Energy Sector Coordinator, Resource Matters. christian.kabongo@resourcematters.org | (+243) 813 647 771
- Ana Binuya, Researcher and Platform Manager, Resource Matters. ana.binuya@resourcematters.org | (+32) 495 14 45 22
- Jimmy Munguriek, DRC Country Director, Resource Matters jimmy.munguriek@resourcematters.org | (+243) 820875088
- Kinshasa office: Concession Sedec, Avenue de la Paix n°1, La Gombe, Kinshasa
- Brussels office: Mundo-Madou, Avenue des Arts 7-8, 1210 Brussels, Belgium www.resourcematters.org