How Congo finances that expansion – and addresses the infrastructure constraints between generation and consumers – will form part of the investment discussion at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2027, taking place June 1–3 in Brazzaville. The forum will connect government, utilities, developers and investors as the country seeks capital across generation, transmission and distribution.

Fixing Congo’s Power Distribution Bottleneck

The E²C diagnostic, conducted by consultancy GDSC, is intended to support a recovery plan covering operational performance, financial management and electricity delivery. The wider reform program includes rehabilitation and modernization of transmission and distribution infrastructure, particularly in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, alongside the gradual deployment of prepaid smart meters to improve billing and reduce commercial losses.

The scale of the challenge is significant. Congo has approximately 760 MW of installed generation capacity, but only around 600 MW is considered available. Network losses stood at approximately 45% in 2022, limiting the amount of electricity that can be converted into billable supply.

National electricity access continues to improve however. The government reported an increase in the national access rate from 49% in 2024 to 59% in early 2026. Congo has also sought to improve operational expertise. In February 2025, the country signed a 10-year agreement with Senegalese utility Senelec covering areas including distribution, network maintenance and grid operations, adding a management and technical-capacity component to the wider reform effort.

Turning Power Potential into Investable Infrastructure

To meet rising demand, Congo plans to expand its generation mix through gas-fired power, solar and storage and hydropower capacity. The country has substantial hydropower potential, estimated at around 4 GW – of which only 4% has been developed -, with prospective developments including Sounda and Chollet forming part of its longer-term capacity ambitions.

But new generation capacity solves only half of the challenge. Diversifying generation sources can reduce Congo’s exposure to disruptions affecting any single technology. The World Bank has identified fragile transmission infrastructure as a constraint on electricity delivery to major consumption centers, while future generation projects will require additional transmission capacity to connect them effectively to demand.

That is why the government has paired its generation targets with transmission and distribution rehabilitation focused on Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. The E²C turnaround is structured to accompany the capacity build-out.

The next phase of Congo’s power strategy will therefore depend on aligning generation investment with the infrastructure needed to deliver it. CEIF 2027 will provide a platform to examine how public and private capital can support generation, grid rehabilitation and wider energy access, as Congo works to turn its power potential into reliable electricity for households and industry.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power in collaboration with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, CEIF 2027 will enable candid dialogue, facilitating new investments and deals in the country’s energy sector. For more information, visit www.congoenergyinvestment.com.