DRC plans massive investment in power generation

• 10 years ago (2013-11-02)
• David Flin

North America 998

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Augustin Mapon, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said that his government plans to invest about $50 billion in power generation. He said that this was part of the government’s attempts to raise living standards by transforming the country’s economy and infrastructure. He said: “The first phase should mobilise $7-10 billion, and the DRC will be obligated to partner other financiers both in the public and private sector. This aims to provide funding for Phase 1 of the Inga dam project.

DRC has an estimated hydropower capacity potential of about 100GW. Mapon said that the Inga project, when complete, could generate up to 50GW. “This will enable us to resolve a key problem of electric power consumption. There is an energy deficiency in parts of the country, including Katanga province, so a project that aims at increasing our power generation is a project that should go together with poverty alleviation and to foster industrialisation of the country.”