Japan Funds Major Electricity Upgrade Project in Kinshasa’s Mont-Amba District

Kinshasa, April 20, 2026 - Work has officially begun on a large-scale electricity infrastructure project in the Mont-Amba district of Kinshasa, supported by a Japanese grant of approximately USD 27 million aimed at improving power supply reliability and access.

The funding, equivalent to 3.898 billion Japanese yen, has been provided to the National Electricity Company SNEL SA under a cooperation framework supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project targets the stabilization of electricity distribution across several communes in Mont-Amba, including Limete, Lemba, Matete, Ngaba, and Kisenso. It involves the installation of new 220 kV high-voltage transformers and the construction of control rooms at the Funa and Liminga substations.

Authorities say the infrastructure upgrade is expected to improve electricity reliability, support local economic activity, and enhance living conditions in one of Kinshasa’s most densely populated districts.

The works, initially planned for 2025 following the signing of the grant agreement between Japan and the DRC, officially began two weeks ago and are scheduled to run for 24 months.

Implementation is being carried out by international engineering firms selected through a competitive procurement process, including Trust Engineering Partners and Yachiyo Engineering.

According to project stakeholders, the grant does not involve direct cash transfers to the national utility. Instead, funds are managed jointly within the cooperation framework between both governments, with contractors selected through tender procedures after technical feasibility studies.

Officials involved in the project emphasize that the initiative reflects a model of infrastructure cooperation focused on transparency, technical oversight, and results-based implementation, in line with public procurement standards.

The project is part of broader efforts to strengthen urban energy infrastructure in Kinshasa, where demand for electricity continues to outpace supply due to rapid population growth and expanding economic activity.