Solar Powered Peace – Democratic Republic of the Congo

ELAW partner Olivier Ndoole reports a big win for renewable energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The Nuru company’s 1.3MW solar hybrid project in Goma has received a permit to begin construction and distribution.

Nuru’s website says the project would be the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa.
 
ELAW collaborated with Olivier’s organization, Alerte Congolaise pour l’Environnement et les Droits de l’Homme (ACEDH), to review and assess the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), prepared by the developers.
 
“Olivier was able to inform the government decision makers that the project reflected best practices and had a smaller footprint than many solar projects,” says ELAW Staff Scientist Dr. Mark Chernaik.
 
Mark worked closely last week with Olivier and ELAW Law Associate Paola Eisner to create a presentation, in French and English, for government officials in North Kivu Province who asked for Olivier’s help analyzing the EIA.
 
Olivier is the Executive Secretary at ACEDH. He traveled to Eugene as an ELAW Fellow earlier this year and is doing courageous work defending landless communities near Virunga National Park, a region plagued by civil unrest and home to some of the few mountain gorillas in the world. Meeting the need for dependable electricity will help lay the foundation for a peaceful DRC.
 
Nuru’s solar project in Goma is one of the first private energy ventures in DRC and the first to partner with NGOs, including Energy Peace Partners.
 
“Our partnership with ELAW was critical and I thank everyone for helping me pull our presentation together on such short notice,” said Olivier.
 
For more information on ELAW’s work with partners in DRC, see:
 
Democratic Republic of the Congo Protecting Communities and the Environment Through Law

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director
& Fellows Program Coordinator