Industrial zone of Maloukou : Congo and Build Africa Energy Sign Site Electrification Act

On June 1st, 2018, the Minister of State, Minister in charge of Industry, Gilbert Ondongo and the President and CEO of Build Africa Energy, Miles G. Oates, signed the protocol for electrification and management of the industrial zone of Maloukou. This allows in the next days, the execution of the project in two phases: the connection of Maloukou to the SNE and the development-construction of a solar field of 5 megawatts scalable up to 100 megawatts. The overall cost of the works is estimated at 16 billion CFA francs.

The act that the Congolese government has just made through the Minister of State, Minister in charge of Industry and the President and CEO of Build Africa Energy, defines the partnership between the two parties, for the implementation of the energy supply project at Maloukou Industrial Zone. It thus offers the main key that was missing at the opening of the economic pole that constitutes the industrial zone of Maloukou. The transport of electricity to this industrial complex has been a thorn in the government and a great challenge for the Congo. Several times questioned on this subject by the parliamentarians, the executive did not stop reassuring the elected officials on the numerous steps undertaken, in order to make functional these industries, all carrying hope for the Congo. It is therefore a challenge that the government has just taken up, and great opportunities for unemployed young graduates, as well as the local residents whose lives will soon change.

Long-standing research has enabled the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Public Portfolio to engage with this South African company, which specializes in the supply of energy solutions, construction and management of industrial parks. , to prepare the bases of this cooperation. After a technical visit to the site, there is little, the experts of the company Build Africa Energy have proposed a bid in two cumulative phases, including:
- the connection of the industrial zone of Maloukou to the network of the Imboulou power station and the construction of a high-voltage line of 220 Kv;
- construction in Maloukou of a 5-megawatt solar plant up to 100 megawatts.
The project will be carried out according to the following sequences selected by both parties:
- connection to the SNE lines on the Brazzaville-Ngo section;
- construction of a 15-kilometer transport line to Maloukou;
- construction of a distribution station in Maloukou with a distribution network;
- connection of the Maloukou Industrial Zone to the substation;
- construction of a solar power plant based on monocrystalline panels, without a tracking system and connected to the 20 Kv substation.

What is the Maloukou industrial zone:
An integrating project, the industrial zone of Maloukou is a complex which extends over approximately 65 000 000 m2 divided between about fifteen factories, a refrigeration plant, warehouses and the flow of production. Composed of several industrial units divided by branches of activity, it is composed of individual lots, an adjacent zone reserved for the future expansion of the activities and a third zone dedicated to the activities related to the supply of water and electricity.
Except for the 20,000 direct and indirect jobs it creates, this project will allow the development of import and export activities, underpinned by logistical support structures, including a training and development center for the hand. a dry port and services, shopping centers, hotels and a convention center. In addition to the production units, it is also planned to build 68 houses, 180 housing for the operators, technical offices, an infirmary, a refectory with industrial kitchen, a bakery, a mechanical workshop for heavy machinery and trucks conventional.
Built in the village of Manziélé, 80 km north of Brazzaville, the industrial zone of Maloukou is part of the special economic zone of Brazzaville to build. It specializes in the manufacture of building materials. Several items made of ceramic, plastic, aluminum and iron will come out in large quantities from the 16 factories that cost the state, a whopping 17.6 billion CFA francs. Once in production, they should participate in the policy of diversification of the national economy.
J.D.