• AEE Power plans to invest $42.7 million to build a 14.04 MW hybrid mini-grid for Mwene-Ditu.

• The system will combine solar, battery storage and backup thermal generation to guarantee reliability.

• The mini-grid will serve up to 25,018 clients within five years, with electricity sales expected to reach 34,192 MWh by Year 10.

AEE Power, a pan-African developer specialized in power infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa, plans to invest $42.7 million to build a 14.04 MW mini-grid designed to electrify Mwene-Ditu, the second-largest city in the Lomami province. The company presented the project during a workshop that gathered local economic operators, organized in partnership with VSI Afrique, a consulting firm focused on energy and infrastructure.

The future mini-grid will combine solar generation, battery storage and backup thermal power. The company plans to install 14.04 MWp of photovoltaic solar capacity (11.7 MW AC) alongside 4.128 MWh of storage with 1.032 MW output. A 2.53 MVA thermal plant will secure continuous supply when solar energy falls short.

Roger Ilunga Tshintu, AEE Power’s representative, said the distribution network will include 46.39 km of medium-voltage lines, 96.37 km of low-voltage lines, 20,990 prepaid meters for residential and commercial users, and 2,313 public lighting points.

AEE Power expects the mini-grid to serve 14,690 customers during its first year of operation and 25,018 clients by its fifth year. Electricity sales should reach 13,471 MWh after five years and 34,192 MWh by Year 10.

The project will supply households, SMEs, public buildings, hospitals, and telecommunications facilities. The company intends to design the infrastructure to ensure 50% renewable penetration with less than 2% downtime.

AEE Power already operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo across generation, transmission and distribution. Its flagship projects include the 11 GW Inga 3 hydropower project, the Fungurume–Kasumbalesa and Goma–Bukavu high-voltage lines, and the Kinshasa distribution network, which includes nearly 19,600 new connections.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum