Kinshasa, April 5, 2024 (kilalopress) – The Mwangaza Network held a press conference this Friday in Kinshasa to demand more transparency and accountability from the Presidency of the Republic, the Congolese Government, and the General Inspectorate of Finances regarding the final conclusions of the renegotiation of the agreements signed with the consortium of Chinese companies on April 8, 2008, with a colossal value of $6 billion, as well as the signing of a new amendment for a duration of seventeen years.
This press conference began with a presentation of the Mwangaza Network by its coordinator, aiming to strengthen advocacy on common and specific issues in the energy sector, to provide a framework for exchange and analysis to address sector challenges, and to support the work of member organizations by strengthening them technically at the same time.
Following this presentation, Maître Erick Kassongo took the floor to present the press release, outlining the concerns expressed by the Mwangaza Network. The Mwangaza Network seeks to understand in detail the modifications made to the agreements, particularly regarding the right of access to electricity, the shareholding of the company SICOHYDRO, the distribution of social shares and the energy produced, as well as the social considerations of the Busanga project. On this occasion, the network raises the following questions:
- What are the real changes in the shareholding of the SICOHYDRO company?
- Which entity will represent the shares of the Congolese State in the company?
- Why was SICOMINES involved in the Busanga project as a shareholder without GECAMINES, of which it is a 25% subsidiary?
- Is it possible that GECAMINES was deprived of dividends from SICOMINES in SICOHYDRO while holding shares?
- Why would SICOHYDRO enjoy exemptions and waivers when it is an electricity operator like any other?
- How could the Busanga project contribute to electrifying the surrounding populations and the Lualaba province, where over 90% of the population lacks access to electricity?
In response to these concerns, the Mwangaza Network formulates the following recommendations:
To the Presidency of the Republic:
- Ensure the publication of the renegotiated agreements with the consortium of Chinese companies.
- Encourage the definition of a quota for the distribution of electric energy produced by Busanga to ensure local development and local electrification of the province in order to reduce deficits in electric supply.
- Instruct the compensation and reparations in favor of the victims who have lost homes and fields due to the Busanga Project.
To the Congolese Government:
- Embrace the initiative of the presidency and fulfill its role as the executive.
- Define a quota or percentage of electric power that each new electricity company must reserve for local consumption, in order to accelerate the right of access to energy by new projects.
- Demand that SICOHYDRO provide 24 MW of Busanga’s production.
To the Lualaba Province:
- Organize compensation and reparations for the victims who have lost homes and fields due to the Busanga project.
- Inform the public about the fate of the company CONGO MANGEMENT (Coman: formerly holding 15% of the shares in the Busanga project).
- Shed light on the justification for exemptions and waivers granted to SICOHYDRO.
To the Governor of the Lualaba Province:
- Embrace the advocacy of the Mwangaza Network regarding the Busanga hydroelectric project.
- Organize a fair and equitable compensation process for the victims of the Busanga project, including the residents of villages 48 heures, Mongaluboza, Kamalenge, and the farmers.
- Publish the compensation reports for 2019, 2022, and 2023 to allow stakeholders to determine the responsibilities of the actors.
- Demand a quota or percentage of electric power that new electricity companies created in partnership with the province must provide for local consumption.
- Publish all partnership contracts concluded between the province and private operators for the development of the electricity sector in the province.
To the Coordination and Monitoring Cell of the SINO-CONGOLESE Contract:
- Embrace all the recommendations of the Mwangaza network and follow them up.
The questions and answers followed. Before Maître Donat KAMBOLA intervened to add further details on the comments related to the subject of this press conference.
This press conference organized by the Mwangaza Network reveals crucial questions about transparency and accountability regarding the agreements signed with the consortium of Chinese companies, highlighting colossal stakes of $6 billion. The recommendations formulated by this network aim to ensure fair and transparent management of resources and energy projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Franck zongwe Lukama