• DRC, South Africa to resume Inga 3 talks in April
• Plans include boosting power exports up to 5,000 MW
• $10bn+ project still in planning with World Bank backing

The Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa plan to resume talks on the Inga 3 hydroelectric project in April 2026, DRC’s Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity said on Thursday, March 12.

South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will visit the DRC to update bilateral energy agreements linked to the project, the ministry.

Existing agreement under review

A memorandum of understanding between the two countries already provides for electricity exports of 2,500 megawatts, according to the World Bank. Talks are ongoing to renew the deal and increase exports to 5,000 MW.

The World Bank said Inga 3 could reposition the DRC as a major regional power supplier, serving both domestic demand and several African power pools, including those in southern, eastern and central Africa. The project could generate export revenue while helping secure electricity supply for Kinshasa and nearby industrial zones.

DR Congo is also preparing to sign an agreement with the Agency for the Development and Promotion of the Grand Inga Project (ADPI) to develop the project’s financing structure with World Bank support, the ministry said.

On Feb. 2, 2026, the French Development Agency and ADPI signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa to support project preparation.

Project still at planning stage

Inga 3 remains under development. The World Bank said key parameters are yet to be defined, with capacity options ranging from about 4,800 MW to 11,000 MW and costs expected to exceed $10 billion.

The bank stressed the need to prepare both the project and the country for its scale and impact.

This forms the basis of the Inga 3 Development Program, backed by a $1 billion World Bank commitment over 10 years, split into four $250 million phases. The first phase was approved on June 3, 2025.

Ahead of a final investment decision, current efforts mainly reflect Kinshasa’s push to revive diplomatic, technical and financial partnerships around a project it sees as central to its energy strategy.

Ronsard Luabeya, with Bankable