The Makala Paradox: How Charcoal Powers the Congo While the World Demands Green

Each evening, as twilight settles over Kinshasa, Goma, and Lubumbashi, the skyline is marked by rising plumes of grey smoke—a testament to the central role of makala, or wood charcoal, in Congolese daily life. Despite the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) vast rivers and bountiful mineral resources, more than 90% of its population remains dependent on wood fuel and charcoal for cooking. For tens of millions, charcoal is not a mere preference but a necessity for survival.

Charcoal’s dominance in the DRC is rooted in the country’s socio-economic landscape. It remains affordable and widely accessible, unlike electricity or imported liquefied petroleum gas, which require costly appliances and reliable infrastructure. Charcoal can be purchased in flexible quantities on nearly every street, from small, affordable bags to large sacks. The makala trade also serves as a critical economic lifeline, employing over 300,000 people across the informal sector—from rural loggers and kiln operators to transporters and urban vendors. The use of charcoal is deeply embedded in Congolese culture, facilitating the slow-cooked preparation of staple foods that require hours of steady heat.

However, this social and economic mainstay comes with significant environmental consequences. The DRC is home to the majority of the Congo Basin rainforest, the world’s second-largest tropical forest and a crucial carbon sink. The persistent demand for charcoal is fueling widespread deforestation, especially near urban centers like Kinshasa, where millions of cubic meters of wood are consumed annually. As forests are cleared for charcoal production, the land loses its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, turning a global asset into a source of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

This situation highlights a profound global dilemma. International calls for the DRC to protect its forests for the sake of climate stability often clash with local realities. For many Congolese, the expectation to abandon charcoal use without an affordable and accessible alternative is simply unfeasible. Realistically, it is impossible to ask families to forgo their next meal in order to preserve the climate. Until viable energy alternatives are as available and affordable as charcoal, wood fuel will remain fundamental to Congolese households.

One potential solution lies beneath the soil of Haut-Lomami province: the underdeveloped coal reserves of Lwena. Discovered decades ago and estimated to contain around 70 million tons of coal, the Lwena deposit has historically been reserved for industrial uses. However, advances in processing technology now create the possibility of producing smokeless, high-efficiency domestic briquettes from this mineral coal. Such a transition could help preserve the Congo Basin forests by providing a scalable, locally sourced, and competitively priced alternative to wood charcoal, while simultaneously generating structured industrial employment and securing energy supply for decades.

The path forward requires market-driven investment rather than reliance on foreign aid alone. The Lwena coal basin represents a significant commercial opportunity. Establishing coal processing and briquetting facilities, along with distribution networks, could serve tens of millions of consumers, bridging a critical gap in the DRC’s energy landscape. For investors, tapping into Lwena’s reserves offers a chance to combine commercial success with the urgent needs of energy transition and forest conservation in the heart of Africa.