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Grand Inga Hydropower Project: The ultimate African power project
Aerial view of the semi-functional Inga dam on the Congo River. PHOTO/UNEP
With an estimated cost of US$80 billion, the Grand Inga Hydropower Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will not come cheap.
But its 40GW output would drive Africa into a brave new world of industrialization, potentially lighting up the continent from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt.
However, the absence of clear intent from the Democratic Republic of Congo has so far capsized attempts to dam the Congo River.
If the Grand Inga Hydropower Project is built, it would dwarf China’s Three Gorges Dam, currently the world’s largest energy generating body, with almost double its capacity.
Two smaller power stations, Inga I and II, are currently in place with an optimum generation capacity of 1,775MW, but output is far less, due to a maintenance backlog.
Plans exist for Inga III, which could generate 4,300-5,000MW at a cost of US$8 -10 billion, but despite years of discussion and planning involving the African Development Bank and the World Bank, there have been no firm commitments.
Timeline: Work at Inga III could begin in 2014 and take several years
Costs: Inga III could cost upwards of US$7 billion, Grand Inga would cost US$80 billion
Probability: 30 percent – unless the Democratic Republic of Congo’s leadership improves
In 2010, the government of the DRC rejected a plan to develop Inga III by Westcor, a consortium of regional power producers led by South Africa’s Eskom.
A rival proposal by BHP Billiton to build a 2,500MW plant collapsed in February due to the credit crunch and the firm’s frustration with the Congolese government’s economic decision-making.
Now the South Africans are back.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo says it wants work on Inga III to begin in 2014 and electricity production to commence in 2017.
Yet the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a volatile, risky investment destination, negotiating with the energy parastatal is as difficult as ever, and it is still not clear whether the government wants to build Inga III or Grand Inga, or both.
Also, the absence of a promised treaty between the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa on Inga remains an ominous sign.
Source: The Africa Report