The Republic of Congo is heading to Africa Energy Week 2026 with an infrastructure agenda focused on expanding electricity access, modernizing power networks and strengthening water services as the country seeks new investment for its development plans.
Minister of Energy and Hydraulics Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua is expected in Cape Town for the October 12–16 event, where Congo will present ongoing reforms and infrastructure projects to an international audience of energy companies, investors and development partners.
At the center of the agenda is the reform and modernization of Energie Électrique du Congo (E²C), the state-owned utility responsible for electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The government is seeking to improve the performance of the power system while expanding access and creating conditions for greater private-sector participation.
One of the priorities is the modernization of electricity distribution. Congo is moving toward the deployment of smart meters, which can improve billing, reduce commercial losses and give utilities better information about electricity consumption. The initiative is part of a wider effort to strengthen the financial and operational performance of the power sector.
The country is also working to expand and reinforce its electricity network. Better transmission and distribution infrastructure will be increasingly important as new generation capacity comes online and more households and businesses gain access to electricity.
International financing is already supporting parts of this agenda. The World Bank has committed $100 million to the Strengthening Electricity Services Project, which is designed to improve the reliability and efficiency of electricity services in Congo. The African Development Bank has also supported project preparation and feasibility work for additional hydropower development.
Water infrastructure forms the other major component of the ministry’s agenda. Congo is seeking to improve water production and distribution while expanding access to reliable services, creating another area where infrastructure investment and technical partnerships will be required.
The significance of Itoua’s participation at Africa Energy Week 2026 therefore goes beyond attendance at a major industry event. Congo is bringing a specific set of infrastructure priorities to a forum designed to connect African energy projects with international capital, technology providers and strategic partners.
For the country, the challenge is translating these priorities into projects that can attract financing and move from planning to implementation. Electricity access, network reliability and water services require long-term investment, while utility reform and stronger infrastructure can help create the conditions for that investment.
Africa Energy Week 2026 provides a platform for Congo to present that agenda directly to the companies and investors that could contribute to its implementation. As the country works to modernize essential infrastructure, the focus is increasingly shifting from individual projects to building a more reliable system capable of supporting households, businesses and broader economic activity.
