Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji is set to begin operations of the first 25 MW turbine at the Djeno Power Plant in the Republic of Congo by March 2025.
This initiative aims to improve electricity access in a country where only about 50% of the population has power, with rural electrification rates as low as 12%.
Currently, the country’s primary power source is the Centrale Electrique du Congo (CEC), a joint venture between Eni and the Congolese government.
Located in Pointe-Noire, the CEC’s capacity expanded from 314 MW to 484 MW. The Djeno Power Plant, developed by Aksa Enerji, is a key step in diversifying the nation’s energy mix.
The 50 MW facility consists of two combined-cycle combustion turbines, with the first turbine coming online in March 2025 and the second expected to follow in the third quarter of the year.
Aksa Enerji has transitioned the plant from oil to natural gas, aligning with the government’s gas monetization strategy.
The gas supply will be sourced from Eni’s Marine XII and M’Boundi fields. “Gas supply will be secured in consultation with the ministries of energy and hydrocarbons,” stated Recep Çorlu, Managing Director of Aksa Enerji in Congo.
Once fully operational, the plant will enhance electricity stability, support industrial growth, and contribute to regional energy security.
The project also aims to improve transmission infrastructure, ensuring efficient power delivery to Brazzaville and beyond. “Regular maintenance and transmission line upgrades are essential to ensure uninterrupted electricity delivery,” Çorlu added.
The Djeno Power Plant is positioned to expand its reach beyond Congo, potentially supplying the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other landlocked nations through the Boucle de l’Amitié Énergétique project, a planned 1,400 kV power line connecting Congo, DRC, and Angola by 2025.
As energy demand rises across Central Africa, particularly in the DRC, the plant’s expansion to 100 MW could establish Congo as a net energy exporter.
The upcoming Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF), scheduled for March 24-26 in Brazzaville, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to discuss energy infrastructure opportunities.
Organized by Energy Capital & Power in partnership with the Congolese Ministry of Hydrocarbons, CEIF 2025 will feature discussions on gas-to-power initiatives.
Aksa Enerji, in collaboration with the Congolese government, is working to increase the plant’s total capacity to 100 MW.
“We are closely coordinating with the necessary ministries to expand the project, and we are committed to completing it as soon as possible,” Çorlu emphasized.
