World Bank approves funding for Congo hydropower project
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Non Profit
The World Bank has approved a $73.1m grant from the International Development Association to Congo's Inga 3 Basse Chute (BC) and Mid-Size Hydropower Development Technical Assistance Project.
The funding, together with $33.4m approved by the African Development Bank last year, will support Congo's efforts to develop its large hydropower potential. The project will finance environmental and social assessments to shape the development of Inga 3 BC, including a cumulative impact assessment.
The Inga 3 BC development would divert about one sixth of the flow of the Congo River into the Bundi Valley. A dam on the Bundi River would create a 15.5km² reservoir. Inga 3 BC does not include a dam on the Congo River itself.
Prime Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon said that Inga 3 BC is undoubtedly the most transformative project for Africa in the 21st century. It is one of the strategic pillars of development for Congo, which needs energy to expand growth and reduce poverty in a sustainable way.
"The World Bank Group's involvement in this project reinforces its mission to fight poverty, and its ongoing commitment to help the Congolese government in its goal to move the country along the path to a strong development future," Mapon added.
Inga 3 is expected to generate 4.8GW of power. Of the total, 1GW will be sold to the national utility SNEL, which in turn will sell it to households and small businesses in greater Kinshasa. It will also sell 1.3GW of power to mining companies in Congo's Katanga Province and an additional 2.5GW to South Africa.
The Grand Inga project is the world's largest hydropower site. It has the potential to generate 40GW with an estimated generation cost of $0.03/kWh.
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- Drought
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