(Ecofin Agency) - The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo will start building the Inga III hydropower dam despite not conducting environmental impact study and World Bank disapproval. According to the Ngo International Rivers, this was told World Bank’s representatives by Bruno Kapandji, head of the Inga project agency.

“Inga III was developed to respond to a need. It is a Congolese project, developed in Congo, so you must think like a Congolese. And as Congolese, we have no other choice than to build the dam. Our industry cannot develop itself without energy. Inga III will generate close to 3,000 MW of which 1,000 MW will be directed toward the region and 1,000 MW to the South for the mining industry,” said Kapandji.

He added that the government, which is working to complete the project, planned for the dam to be built by a Chinese company that would provide the financing. He expects the firm to complete construction “within five years maximum or four years even, given the necessary freedom”.

According to International Rivers, the government of China has instructed its hydropower builders not to construct any dam without the environmental impact study.

Gwladys Johnson