Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§38 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
Internal taxes |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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Enterprises that exploit timber must in principle pay a surface rent on the forest concession of CDF 560 per hectare; a tax on the small scale timber cutting permit of CDF 28,000 per hectare; a reforestation tax of 4% of the ex works (EWK) value per m3 of timber in the rough exported; a tax of 2% of the EWK value per m3 of timber of promoted species exported in the rough ; a felling tax of 1.25% of the EWK value of the species concerned. In addition, the charges involved in the OCC control, in the case of export, amount to 0.85% of the f.o.b. value for sawn timber and veneer, and 1.2% of the f.o.b. value in the case of logs. In the case of local sales from sawmills, these costs are in the order of 1% of the sales price excluding tax.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§41 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
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Forestry |
Relevant information
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As far as the environment and nature conservation are concerned, the DRC has implemented a number of initiatives over the period 2010 2015 through legislation and sectoral strategies. [12] A strategy for this purpose would be worthwhile. Under the Kyoto Protocol, for a country without emission reduction commitments such as the DRC, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) offers an enormous carbon credit market potential. Congolese forests constitute an important "carbon sink" at the global level and are therefore a latent asset in the same way as mining or hydroelectric resources. With a low rate of deforestation of 0.27% in 2009, Congolese forests are the foremost carbon sink in the world. Given the growth prospects for the carbon market (in volume and price), utilization of this resource in the form of carbon credits could turn it into a significant source of revenue for the DRC.
[12] These include: (i) the definition of fundamental principles on environmental protection (Law No. 11/009 of 9 July 2011), based on the fundamental and universal principles recognized at international level such as the obligation to carry out an environmental and social impact study, and an environmental audit; (ii) the adoption in 2012 of a REDD+ National Strategy; (iii) adoption of a policy and research plan for the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, in June 2011; (iv) adoption in September 2012 of a national strategy for biodiversity conservation in protected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo; (v) adoption of measures to regulate classified installations, with the aim of establishing the nomenclature, categorization, procedures for obtaining a national or provincial permit, and conditions for the exploitation of classified installations (Decree No. 13/015 of 29 May 2013); (vi) adoption of a national sanitation policy in December 2013; and (vii) promulgation of Law No. 014 003 of 11 February 2014 on nature conservation.
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Keywords
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Environment
Conservation
Clean
Emissions
Forest
Bio
Energy
MEAs
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§42 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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The DRC has submitted the project for environmental protection in the province of Maï Ndombe for co financing by the Green Climate Fund for an amount of US$70 million. Other projects in the country concern the creation of timber production centres in rural areas, and the creation of the carpentry and cabinet making hub.
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Keywords
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Environment
Climate
Green
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§43 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
Other measures |
Forestry |
Relevant information
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At the international level, the DRC ratified the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in April 2015. In the context of the fight against climate change, since August 2015 the DRC has reduced its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). It also participated actively in the United Nations Climate Conference held in Paris in December 2015, and supports the effective implementation of the agreement reached at the Conference.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§93 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The DRC has the largest energy potential in Africa (estimated at around 100,000 MW). However, only 3% of this potential is being exploited. Generating capacity amounts to 2,459 MW, of which 2,417 MW corresponds to hydroelectric and 42 MW to thermal generation. (...)
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§95 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The Congolese electricity production, transport and distribution system remains fragmented and insufficient to satisfy the entire territory of the country. The present system comprises five main networks (North, East, Centre, South and West). Each of these operates independently, linking the power plants with consumption centres. However, the West and South networks are interconnected. In order to reduce the electricity shortfall, it is planned to rehabilitate the old power stations and build new hydroelectric plants, including those of Grand Inga.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§96 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The Grand Inga project is planned to be carried out in seven phases, and will comprise six hydroelectric plants (INGA III, INGA IV, INGA V, INGA VI, INGA VII and INGA VIII) with a total estimated capacity of 42,000 MW. The optimal development study for the INGA site and its interconnections also included considering the feasibility of the INGA III low head power station project.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§97 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
Other support measures |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The project is to be implemented under a private public partnership (PPP). The procedure for the selection of the private partner is under way. It was launched in 2010 and led to the preselection in February 2012 of three candidate developer/concessionaire groups, followed in February 2016 by the sending of the "bid phase" tender documents to these groups. Bids are to be submitted in June 2016. The choice of the concessionaire is expected to take place at the end of August 2016, and the partnership contract could be signed in late 2016. The INGA III low head project is scheduled for implementation in six years' time and should result in a hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of 4,800 MW. The power from Inga III is planned to be distributed as follows: 1,300 MW for the mining industry in Katanga; 1,000 MW for the SNEL; and 2,500 MW for South Africa.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§100 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Other |
Relevant information
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The abundance of natural water resources, both surface and underground, in the DRC (about 53% of Africa's fresh water reserves) contrasts with the low levels of access to and availability of drinking water. According to the Congolese authorities, only 23% of the country's population is being supplied with drinking water (41.5% in urban and 12% in rural areas). Out of an installed production capacity estimated at 361,289,900 m3, REGIDESO, a State owned company with a de facto monopoly, annually produces 238,900,427 m3, which corresponds to a utilization ratio of 66%. The minimum global demand for drinking water is 3.2 million m3 per day as compared with a daily production of 0.75 million m3. Thus, there is a drinking water deficit of 2.45 million m3 per day.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/339 |
S-IV§101 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
2016 |
Sectors |
General environmental reference |
Energy |
Relevant information
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In order to reduce this deficit and revitalize the sector, since 31 December 2015 the Government has liberalized the production, distribution and transport of water, but not its export. It is also according priority to the revival of the rural water engineering programme, the completion of the water supply works in progress, the boring of new wells and the improvement of the distribution network. With regard to infrastructure, the Government has made efforts to improve electricity and drinking water supply in both urban and rural areas. These efforts include the rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure managed by the national electricity and water companies (SNEL and REGIDESO); the construction of new infrastructure such as the Matebe power station inaugurated on 16 December 2015 with a capacity of 12.6 MW; the rehabilitation and strengthening of installations; the search for alternative solutions, such as solar energy; and energy imports.
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