afrol News, 22 April - The World Energy Council (WEC) has organised a two-day meeting in London to discuss plans for the establishment of Africa's largest and most powerful hydroelectric dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Grand Inga project, which costs US $80 billion, is expected to boost Africa's energy supply by up to 30%. Via a giant new distribution system, the Congo river-based dam will transmit power to other African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and beyond Africa.

Seven African governments and the world's largest banks and construction companies are brainstorming on feasibility study and establishment of the multi-billion dollar project ahead of its planned start in 2014. The project, which will be built alongside two other existing hydro-electric plants [Inga 1 and Inga 2], is scheduled to begin operations between 2020 and 2025.

It includes a 205m-high dam, 15km-long reservoir and a plant with a capacity to produce 320 terawatt hours of electricity yearly. The project was delayed by war in Africa's vast country.

WEC officials described Grand Inga as the greatest sustainable project that offers Africa a unique chance for interdependence and prosperity, especially now that waring parties agreed to sign peace accord. The project will help rich countries to offset greenhouse gas emissions. It is attracting the attention of several dam-building companies, including those Canadian, Brazilian and Chinese and the World Bank.

For several years, Congo has been exporting electricity but large part of the country, especially the rural communities, are still without electricity.

Right groups and local people feared the project might defeat its purpose and in the end escalated the central African country's debt.

At least 600 million Africans have been without access electricity in Africa. Also 35 out of Africa's 53 countries are at risk of epileptic power supply.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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