First Cogeneration Plant in DRC Ushers in a New Era of Clean Energy
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has achieved a milestone with the inauguration of its first cogeneration plant, which can produce 140 kilowatts of electricity.
The plant was officially opened on Tuesday, June 24, 2024, in Yangambi, located more than 100 km from Kisangani in the Tshopo province. This marks a historic moment for the country.
According to information from ACP, this pioneering plant uses biomass to generate electricity. Developed by the International Forestry Research Center (CIFOR), the plant was handed over to the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INERA) in Yangambi. The ceremony was attended by the European Union Ambassador to the DRC, Nicolas Berlanga.
“We have just inaugurated the cogeneration plant today. It is a power plant that creates electricity without using fossil fuels. It’s clean energy,” declared Dominique Kankonde, Director General of INERA.
The plant boasts an installed capacity of 140 kilowatts, divided into two modules of 70 kilowatts each. It is intended to supply an industrial zone being developed nearby, aiming to stimulate the local economy.
A cogeneration plant is a facility that simultaneously produces electricity and heat from a single energy source, such as natural gas, biogas, fuel oil, or biomass.
This process optimizes energy use, reduces energy losses, and improves efficiency, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy costs.
The inauguration of this cogeneration plant represents an efficient and sustainable solution for the DRC, highlighting the country’s commitment to clean energy and economic development.
