The Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa agreed to speed up ongoing efforts to construct at the Congo River an enormous dam for producing hydroelectricity with the ability to supply the whole continent.
The two countries’ Presidents Joseph Kabila and Jacob Zuma respectively, met in Kinshasa to discuss the ongoing progress of the multi-billion dollar project. Both agreed that the dam construction needs to move along faster thus all outstanding issues need to be resolved to clear the way forward for the pan-African Project.
Congo River is a major producer of hydroelectric power in Africa but the Inga 3 dam project is the first of its kind in the continent. The project would divert Congo River waters into a 12 kilometre channel in Matadi, and then pass through a 100 metre high hydropower dam in Bundi Valley before joining the river back again.
The 12 billion dollar project which started more than ten years ago is expected to produce 4 800 megawatts of power, an output that a three third generation nuclear reactors produce, this electricity will boost the supply of power in a region that lacks sufficient electricity.
Inga 3 dam project was stunted for years before the South African government in 2013 made a move to buy more than half of the power produced there assuring its financial viability. South Africa is trying to counter the power shortages.
The dam has been supported by World Bank and African Development Bank but has still faced delays. The World Bank announced in April that building will begin on 2017.
