Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in The Democratic Republic of Congo: Empirical Analysis

This study analyzes the relationship between economic growth and electricity consumption in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It assesses the impact of different levels of electricity consumption (low, medium, and high voltage) on growth, using the ARDL model to explore the short- and long-term dynamics between the variables. The results show that only high-voltage consumption sustainably stimulates growth, while low-voltage consumption has a negative effect, and medium-voltage consumption has no significant long-term impact. In the short term, high- and low-voltage consumption contribute positively but weakly to growth, unlike mediumvoltage consumption, which has a negative effect. These findings highlight the current low energy efficiency and the need for structural reforms to strengthen the contribution of electricity to economic development.