11 GW Inga 3 Hydropower Project Enters Execution Phase in DRC

A Strategic Milestone for Grand Inga

During the Invest in African Energy 2026 forum in Paris, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Hydraulic Resources & Electricity, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, confirmed a major breakthrough for the Inga 3 hydropower project. The initiative is now approaching parliamentary review, signaling a transition from theoretical planning to concrete implementation.

The Minister revealed that the government has secured $275 million from the World Bank for preparation and implementation. The DRC’s strategy is shifting; the country is now seeking “transformation partners” rather than traditional investors to accelerate the project’s timeline.

Technical Scope and Regional Impact

Inga 3 is the foundational phase of the Grand Inga complex on the Congo River—the world’s largest potential hydropower site with a total planned capacity of 44 GW.

• Initial Capacity: 4.8 GW targeted for the first phase.
• Long-term Potential: Scalable up to 11 GW, depending on phased development and transmission buildout.
• Regional Connectivity: Designed to solve domestic supply shortages and enable massive electricity exports across Southern and Central Africa via high-voltage transmission corridors.

Gas and Regional Integration: The Broader African Vision

The dialogue expanded to include the continent’s wider energy landscape, emphasizing the synergy between hydropower and natural gas:

Gabon: Domestic Industrial Transformation

Gabon’s Minister of Petroleum and Gas, Clotaire Kondja, highlighted that gas infrastructure must move beyond exports. The focus is now on domestic industrial transformation, building integrated value chains that support long-term regional competitiveness.

The Strategic Role of the GECF

Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), underscored that Africa’s energy future hinges on execution rather than just raw resources.

• Energy Security: Natural gas remains central to industrial development.
• Regional Cooperation: Unlocking resources requires stable regulatory frameworks and investor confidence to build cross-border systems connecting supply to industrial demand.

Conclusion: From Potential to Implementation

The core message from the 2026 summit is clear: Africa’s success depends on the ability to build integrated systems. With Inga 3 moving into execution, the DRC is demonstrating that large-scale infrastructure is no longer a vision of the future, but a priority of the present.