Democratic Republic of Congo

Grid Summary

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is blessed with the greatest hydropower potential in Africa, and among the largest in the world. This potential is a result of the country’s location with the catchment area of the Congo river. The republic’s technically feasible potential is 774 000 GWh/year (estimated in 1997). In 1991, the economically feasible potential was estimated at 419 210 GWH/year, less than 1 percent of the technically feasible potential has been developed. There is potential to construct a large hydro project on the Zaire river, La Grand’Inga, which could have a capacity of up to 35 500 GW. This project will go ahead if export markets in north and central African countries, including Egypt, are secured. A study concluded that such a large project was technically and economically feasible, and envisaged the construction of an 8000 MW first stage plant by 2010. Lake Mobutu Sese Seko also holds possibility for a storage site for a multipurpose project for hydro and for regulation of Nile river flows...more information.

View Progress by Goal for Democratic Republic of the Congo Official MDG Reports International aid and national awareness help in the struggle to overcome HIV/AIDS The Democratic Republic of the Congo is emerging from a tumultuous period marked by large-scale, armed conflict, the undermining of the authority of the State, and the resulting economic instability. Since 2001 the Government has adopted a three-stage strategy for recovery: stabilization, revitalization, and the return to sustainable development. Since the end of March 2002, the government has adopted an interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which will help the country qualify for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. The final PRSP, adopted at end-June 2006, is faithful to the strategy for emerging from the crisis, with a broader scope in order to include strengthening public institutions and enhancing governance. The fact that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) now have a place in the final PRSP is a step forward, but the integration of the Goals into the development strategy is still limited...more information.