(Ecofin Agency) - Unlike announced earlier on, the 4800 MW Inga III hydropower dam of DR Congo will start operating in 2024/2025, as compared to 2020/2021 before. This is what Bruno Kapandji, the head of the congolese agency in charge of the project, told Reuters on July 3, 2017.

"We are working for this timing (in 2024 or 2025) now that the potential developer has been identified," he said. Indeed, last month, the DRC’s government asked the two consortiums (from China and Spain) running for the dam contract, to submit their bids.

Valued at $14 billion, the project, according to Reuters, struggles to mobilize the funds required for its development. A situation which results, amongst others, from the World Bank withdrawing its support to the project, after the country’s presidency took it over. Also, DRC’s geopolitical situation, which is marked by persistent insecurity, and president Kabila’s refusal to leave power despite his mandate having ended last December, are other reasons for the delay in constructing the dam.

Out of the 4800 MW which the plant will produce, 2500 MW will be sold to South Africa; 1300 MW will be injected in the national mining industry and the remaining 1000 MW will be made available to populations.

It should be noted that DRC has an electrification rate of about 15%.

Gwladys Johnson