Teddy Lwamba, Directeur général de la Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL)
Les difficultés de desserte en électricité en République démocratique du Congo ne sont pas uniquement liées aux capacités de production. À Kinshasa, la Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL) fait également face à un autre défi : les raccordements frauduleux au réseau.
The director general of the Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL), Teddy Lwamba, has alluded to this problem during a press briefing held on Wednesday, October 1st in Kinshasa, alongside the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya.
According to the responsible for the electricity company, fraudulent connections constitute an additional pressure factor on the distribution infrastructure. This allows certain users to consume electricity without it being properly recorded and billed.
Illegal connections that put the network under pressure
Beyond the financial loss for the SNEL, fraudulent connections also pose a technical problem. Branching performed outside of standards can contribute to overloading of cabins and equipment, with as a consequence of potential breakdowns that could disrupt further service.
This situation complicates the work of the SNEL, which must simultaneously ensure the maintenance of its installations, develop its network, and improve the quality of electricity supply.
For Teddy Lwamba, combating fraud should be part of the strategy to improve the long-term performance of the network.
The question of irregular connections is occurring in a context where the SNEL seeks to improve its revenues and strengthen its ability to finance its activities.
Consumption that is not properly accounted for represents a loss of revenue for the company, even though the company must mobilize important resources for the maintenance and modernization of its infrastructure.
The DG of the SNEL has thus placed the fight against fraud among the elements of a more comprehensive strategy aimed at restoring the balance of the public electricity service.
This strategy also involves improving the collection of invoices, increasing production capacity, strengthening the network, and improving maintenance.
As the SNEL contemplates particularly a floating power plant of 134 MW to strengthen the energy supply, Teddy Lwamba implicitly suggests that increasing production cannot constitute, on its own, a response to the difficulties of service delivery.
It is therefore necessary to have a network capable of transporting and distributing electricity effectively, while reducing losses and fraudulent consumption.
The fight against illegal connections appears as one of the tasks related to improving the public service of electricity.
