Mega hydropower project still to be launched in Congo

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The construction of a grand hydropower project with 40,000 mega watts capacity is yet to be launched in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) years after announced as a key flagship project.

Abou-Zaid Amani, African Union Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy, underlined on Friday the need for restructuring the tender process to make the project more effective.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the African Union Executive Council Meeting, Amani said: “The plan to construct Inga in six phases does not face any constraint other than the need for restructuring the tender.”

She failed to give timeline, though.

The Grand Inga Dam project is the world’s largest proposed hydropower scheme. It is the centerpiece of a grand vision to develop a continent-wide power system, according to International Rivers, an online source.

The mega-project is a priority project for a number of Africa development organizations, including the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the Southern Africa Development Community, East African Power Pool and ESKOM, Africa’s largest power utility.

The proposed dam is the fourth and largest of a series of dams that have been built or are proposed for the lower end of the Congo River in the DRC.

The Grand Inga Dam will generate 40,000 MW, and the Inga III Dam is the first phase.

The project will consume $18 billion, according to sources.