Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Hydropower Country Notes

Congo (Democratic Republic)

The assessed potential for hydropower is by far the highest in Africa, and one of the highest in the world. The gross theoretical potential of the

Congo River is almost 1 400 TWh/yr and the technically feasible capacity about 100 000 MW. The current level of rated hydroelectric capacity is equivalent to less than 3% of this latter capacity. Hydro provides virtually the whole of the country's electricity.

The national power authority SNEL has 17 hydro plants, with a total rated capacity of 2 410  MW; its largest stations are Inga I (351 MW) and Inga II
(1 424 MW). The effective capacity at SNEL's hydro plants has recently been only about half their rated level, owing to problems in maintenance and refurbishment.

A significant increase in capacity would be provided by Inga III (3 500 MW), which is currently in the stage of feasibility studies. There is also a huge scheme (Grand Inga, 39 000 MW) for the installation of up to 52 generators of 750 MW each, incorporating the supply of electricity to other parts of

Africa via new long-distance transmission lines. Both generating plant and transmission network have been the subject of preliminary investigations and pre-feasibility studies.

These studies identified three major African interconnection projects:

„    Northern Highway (Inga to

Egypt );

„    Southern Highway (Inga to

South Africa );

„   

Western Highway (Inga to Nigeria ).

These electricity Highways would supply the five African power pools: SAPP, WAPP, PEAC, EAPP and COMELEC.

The World Energy Council is facilitating the development of the

Inga River hydropower projects. As a first step, WEC convened an International high level Forum on the Grand Inga Projects in Gaborone , Botswana , 16-17 March 2007, which produced a Draft Action Plan. In due course the final plan will be submitted by the WEC to the G8 and other international and regional organisations and institutions.