The President of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, along with his Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has recently inaugurated the Renewable Energy Research Centre in the town of Oyo.
This infrastructure was established due to recurrent power cuts in the town, which had hindered the economic growth of at least 5,000 inhabitants.
The new facility covers 10,000 square meters and includes offices and accommodation for Congolese and other African researchers.
The authorities of Congo see the inauguration of this research center as a sign that the time for energy transition has come in their country, and they hope it will pave the way for further renewable energy development.
“It is a centre that aims to develop applied research in the field of renewable energy. Our country has great potential in terms of green energy resources, particularly hydroelectricity (22 000 MW), biomass, wind and solar energy,” explains Gabin Dimitri Ngantso, a researcher at the Congolese Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation.
The construction of the Oyo center, which spanned five years and cost a total of 24 million euros (equivalent to 15.7 billion CFA francs), was financed through a partnership between the Republic of Congo, Eni, an Italian oil company, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Eni’s managing director, Claudio Descalzi, believes that this shift towards a more diverse mix of electricity sources will improve electricity access for communities in Congo that are not currently connected to the national grid.