The Régie de Distribution d'Eau (REGIDESO), the Congolese state-owned company responsible for water distribution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is preparing to diversify its activities by launching a production plant for bottled drinking water in plastic bottles and 5-liter jerrycans. This initiative marks a strategic shift for REGIDESO, which aims to conquer the national bottled water market, dominated until now by private brands.
Faced with persistent financial challenges, including payment delays from the State and the fragility of its economic model, REGIDESO seeks to diversify its revenue streams. The sale of bottled water could generate additional income, which would be reinvested in modernizing networks and improving water supply. According to REGIDESO's Managing Director, David Tshilumba Mutombo, construction of this plant is expected to begin within three to four months in Kinshasa. Similar units should be gradually installed in other cities of the country.
The bottled water market in the DRC is already competitive, with several well-established companies. To succeed, REGIDESO will have to focus on the quality of its products, compliance with health standards and the competitiveness of its prices. The company also plans to set up a plastic bottle recycling system to reduce its environmental impact.
This REGIDESO initiative comes at a time when access to drinking water remains a major challenge in the DRC. Although the country has significant freshwater resources, a large proportion of the population does not have access to safe drinking water. In 2012, only 46% of the population had access to an improved drinking water source. REGIDESO hopes to help improve access to drinking water while ensuring its financial viability.
REGIDESO, created in 1929, holds a monopoly on the production and distribution of drinking water in the DRC. In 2024, it produced 336,284,849 cubic meters of water, generating revenues of 464.8 billion Congolese francs (approximately US$163 million).
