Democratic Republic of Congo Finalises Two Energy Contracts Backed by $350m Financing Push

Minteesinot Niggusie

The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed two major energy agreements aimed at expanding electricity access in rural and peri-urban areas, as the government advances efforts to close long-standing infrastructure gaps in the sector. The projects, concluded in April, are supported by A-ONE PACIFIC INVESTMENTS, which says it has overseen financial and organisational structuring for operations exceeding 350 million US dollars.

The contracts involve partnerships with Germany’s Gauff Engineering and India’s Angelique International, and are expected to combine hydro, solar and transmission infrastructure in different parts of the country. Under the first agreement, the National Agency for Electrification and Energy Services in Rural and Peri-Urban Areas (ANSER) signed a market contract with Gauff Engineering to support the electrification of 36 territories.

The programme is designed around hybrid systems integrating solar and hydroelectric generation, with the stated aim of extending access to electricity to millions of residents in underserved regions. A second agreement between ANSER and Angelique International covers the development of the Mbombo hydroelectric power plant, with an installed capacity of about 20.08 megawatts.

The project includes four generating units, access roads and transmission lines connecting power output to Kananga, a key urban centre in Kasai Central province. Cyprien Musimar, director-general of ANSER, said access to electricity remained central to national development priorities.

“Access to electricity is a fundamental lever for development. These initiatives mark a significant step towards more inclusive energy coverage in the DRC,” he said. The government has positioned rural electrification as part of a wider strategy to support economic activity, including in mining regions, where power shortages have constrained industrial output.

Officials say improved electricity access is also expected to contribute to job creation and local economic development, although implementation challenges in infrastructure projects have historically slowed progress. The financial and structural coordination of both agreements has been attributed to A-ONE PACIFIC INVESTMENTS, which describes its role as supporting project preparation, funding alignment and stakeholder coordination between public agencies and international partners.

The company has been linked to more than 350 million US dollars in combined project value across the initiatives. Its co-founders, Franck Ping and Jean-François Ping, have positioned the firm as a facilitator of cross-border infrastructure financing in Africa, with a focus on energy and development projects.

Franck Ping said the underlying challenge in African infrastructure development lies in structuring bankable projects rather than identifying demand. “Africa lacks neither opportunities nor ambition. The challenge lies in designing robust, fundable and achievable projects. That is where we focus our efforts,” he said.

The two agreements come at a time when the DRC is seeking to expand electricity coverage in a country where access rates remain uneven between urban centres and rural areas. Energy infrastructure has long been identified as a constraint on industrial expansion and service delivery.

Further energy projects involving A-ONE PACIFIC INVESTMENTS are reportedly under development, although details have not been disclosed. The company said the initiatives form part of a longer-term pipeline aimed at supporting energy system expansion across the region.