Congo - Rural Electrification Project

The Rural Electrification Project is part of a national programme for the electrification, from the interconnected electricity grid, of 53 rural centres in 10 of the 12 Departments of Congo. The programme aims to contribute to improving the living conditions of rural communities through sustainable access to electricity and to boost the accelerated municipalisation programme initiated by the Government in 2004 aimed at providing all District headquarters with basic social infrastructure. The project should make it possible to provide grid connection and electrical energy from hydroelectric and gas-fired plants to: (i) 5,100 households or 25,500 inhabitants; (ii) 17 health centres; (iii) 40 educational establishments; (iv) 24 boreholes; (iv) 38 administrative centres and companies; and (v) a commercial area. The total cost, net of taxes, is estimated at UA 15.67 million. The main expected outputs at the end of 48 months of project implementation are: (i) construction of 305 km of medium and low voltage distribution grids; (ii) building of 71 MV/LV transformer stations; (iii) electrification of 59 new localities, including two rural communities and two District headquarters; (iv) installation of 5,100 connections; (v) installation of 2,255 street lighting units; and (vi) capacity building for public entities of the electricity sub-sector. The total project cost, net of taxes and customs duties, is estimated at UA 15.67 million, comprising UA 11.46 million in foreign exchange (73.11%) and UA 4.21 million in local currency (26.89%). It is focused on two main components, namely: A) Electrical Infrastructure; and B) Project Management Support.