For nearly two weeks, the electricity supply provided by Virunga Énergies has been severely disrupted in the city of Goma. Residents are facing unexpected and repeated power cuts, without warning, breaking with the relative stability seen previously. This situation is causing concern and frustration among the population.

“We’re experiencing power cuts at any time. We’re worried about the safety of our appliances. Before, we were informed in advance of scheduled outages, but now everything happens unpredictably,” says Israël Kasereka, owner of a café located at the Trois Lampes entrance in the Mabanga-Nord district.

Once seen as a company providing a relatively stable service, Virunga Énergies is now facing growing criticism. Power cuts occur at various times of the day – in the morning, afternoon or evening – and last anywhere from a few minutes to around thirty minutes, causing considerable disruption to economic activity in the city.

Businesses are calling for a swift return to normality. “Virunga is our main source of energy. The current situation worries us greatly. We depend entirely on electricity to work. Solutions must be found urgently,” emphasizes Trésor Kazi, owner of a secretarial agency on the Mutinga–Afia Bora road. He also states that on some days there can be up to three successive power cuts.

To date, no official statement has been issued by the management of Virunga Énergies, an organization spun off from the Virunga Foundation, an initiative linked to Virunga National Park. This lack of explanation is fueling further speculation among users as to the causes of these repeated disruptions.

Written by Victoire Katembo Mbuto