| Africa
reforms designed to increase power generation, attract private sector investors and improve the performance of the national energy utility, with the goal of increasing access to electricity to 62% by 2030. Bob Mabiala, head of the Agency for the Development
and Promotion of Grand Inga (ADPI-DRC), says electricity generation potential at the Inga site is one of the largest in the world, while development of this hydropower will be transformative for DRC. The World Bank’s financial support and technical assistance will help ADPI-DRC manage the Inga Programme and finalise preparations for Inga 3, the third plant at a site on the Congo river that includes two older hydropower plants which provide most of DRC’s electricity. This includes support for detailed studies, capacity building, and project structuring. Inga 3’s scale – potentially generating between 2 to 11GW of power, and its technical and stakeholder complexity, mean that its preparation and construction will take around a decade and require government, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to come together. “This is an opportunity to write a new page in DRC’s development story, one that harnesses the country’s rich resources to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty. By supporting DRC’s vision for Inga through this programme and complementary investments in governance, education and infrastructure, the World Bank Group, together with partners, can significantly contribute to converting DRC’s natural resources into economic growth, jobs, and human development for the Congolese people,” said Albert Zeufack, World Bank Division Director for Angola, Burundi, DRC and Sao Tome and Principe.
Transmission link Heralding in new interest in Africa as an investment
destination, New York-based energy investor HYDRO- LINK is to build a 1150km electricity transmission line between Angola and the DRC. Bringing decades of experience in Angola to help deliver the project, Swiss- based Mitrelli Group has also joined as a major investor and partner.
Shortages of electricity in the DRC are commonplace and affect mining and industry activity. In contrast, Angola enjoys a surplus of energy at its hydroelectric power plants, with additional capacity due to come online soon. Aligning supply with demand across borders, this project
will channel the abundant hydropower potential of the Kwanza River to supplement power delivery in Angola and extend it to the energy-hungry Copperbelt region of southeastern DRC.
Scheduled for completion in 2029, the US$1.5 billion, 400kV double-circuit transmission line will include around 3500 steel lattice towers. It will feature US-manufactured 400 kV polymer insulators, ACCC carbon-core conductors, and a 24-fibre optical ground wire system for telecommunications.
Burundi
Inauguration of Burundi’s Jiji hydroelectric power station in June 2025 was seen as being a significant step in the country’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency. And, according to the country’sPpresident Évariste Ndayishimiye, marked a new era in Burundi’s energy development. Together with the Mulembwe plant which will be operational in the coming months, these two Burundian power plants will have a total installed capacity of 49.5MW and an estimated annual output of 235GWh. They will supply electricity to 5,000 households, 7000 businesses and 1700 industrial facilities - not only improving access to electricity for thousands of residents, but also boosting productivity in key sectors such as health, education, agribusiness and ICT. The Jiji and Mulembwe Hydropower Project includes transmission lines and substations, the total cost of which is US$320 million. The African Development Bank
www.waterpowermagazine.com | January 2026 | 21
Above: The Shire river in Malawi. The Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project is a major infrastructure initiative that will add 358MW to Malawi’s electricity generation capacity
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