Firms from all over the world are participating in a bidding process to build a hydropower project expected to cost between US$9 billion and US$14 billion along the Congo River. This bidding and project location was confirmed by Congolese officials last Saturday.
The Inga 3 scheme plans to overcome the power shortages currently besetting country. This has resulted in stunted economic growth in Africa. With the project expected to produce 4,800 megawatts of electricity, it is now considered as one of the largest power projects in the African continent.
The project is to be located about 230 km from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This project though has been at its planning stage since the 1980's but has been bogged down by problems such as political instability, civil strife, local area opposition and its projected massive cost.
After three days of meetings held with World Bank, African Development Bank and other officials in both the technical and financial areas of expertise, commitments were obtained for the project as there is a foreseeable increase in demand for electricity in the region.
According to the Congolese Electricity Minister, Bruno Kapandji Kalala, "We need to do Inga 3 because if we don't, we'll be putting our country up for mortgage."
Join the Conversation