(Ecofin Agency) - • World Bank allocates $1 billion to support the Inga 3 hydroelectric project in DR Congo
• Funding includes an initial $250 million approved on June 3, 2025
• Inga 3 is expected to deliver up to 11,000 MW of power, boosting jobs and energy reform

The World Bank has approved a $1 billion budget to help fund the development of Inga 3, a large-scale hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement was made by Albert Zeufack, the Bank’s country director for DR Congo, in an X post, calling the news “excellent.”

Excellente nouvelle pour la RDC et l’Afrique!
Le Groupe de la Banque mondiale a approuvé aujourd’hui, 03 Juin 2025, un financement de 1 Milliard de Dollars Américains pour le Programme de Développement Inga 3. Oui, le mythique Inga 3!!!
Yes, Africa Can! https://t.co/gcYzmdbo5E pic.twitter.com/QtkTg7yDsq

— Albert Zeufack (@AlbertZeufack) June 3, 2025

This decision marks the World Bank’s official return to the Inga project after a nine-year absence, showing renewed confidence in local leadership. The first tranche, $250 million, was approved on June 3, 2025, as part of the larger funding package. These funds will go to the Agency for the Development and Promotion of Grand Inga (ADPI-RDC) to help lay the groundwork for sustainable progress, with a special focus on local communities, infrastructure, and job creation along the Congo River.

“The Inga 3 development program will accelerate energy sector reforms and provide essential power to sustain progress under the National Energy Compact (COMPACT RDC) beyond 2030,” Zeufack said.

According to Bob Mabila, Director of ADPI-RDC, this new phase offers a chance to rewrite the story of DRC’s development. He believes the project will tap into the country’s natural wealth to lift millions out of extreme poverty.

He added that the long-term vision is for Inga to become a driver of economic growth, linking investments in governance, education, and infrastructure to long-term improvements in jobs, income, and living standards for the Congolese people.

The Inga 3 project, located on the Congo River near the Inga Falls in Kongo-Central province, aims to harness one of Africa’s most powerful natural energy sources. It is seen as a key part of DRC’s plan to expand its electricity supply and potentially export power to other countries, including South Africa.

Depending on the final development plan, Inga 3 could generate between 4,800 and 11,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, significantly more than the combined capacity of the existing Inga I and Inga II dams, which total under 2,000 MW. Both of those older facilities currently operate well below capacity due to poor maintenance.

With strong backing from the World Bank, the Inga 3 project is now positioned as a major piece of the DRC’s long-term energy and economic development strategy.