Work on World's Biggest Hydroelectric Inga Dam on Congo River to Start in 2015

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 19 May 2013 declared that it will start the work on world’s biggest hydroelectric Inga dam on Congo River in October 2015. DRC made the announcement on the construction of the dam in Paris after the talks between the DRC and International officials ended.

The meet on the development of the dam involved multilateral lending institutions. The planned Inga dam Project will produce 40000 megawatts power and provide electricity to half the African Continent. Whereas, the World Bank has estimated that DR Congo’s total hydropower resources can generate up to 100000 megawatts. As per the World Bank estimates if the project is completed at full its capacity than it will be capable of providing power to about 500 million African households.

During the first phase the Inga 3 Basse Chute project will have a capacity of 4800 megawatts.

The Paris meet of the DR Congo and the International officials followed the deal signed on 7 May 2013 between South Africa and DR Congo for cooperation in the energy sector. As per the 7 May 2013 deal, South Africa will buy some of the electricity produced by the project

The project will be developed on the powerful Inga Falls that lie is a narrow strip of DR Congo Territory, through which the Congo river runs down to the Atlantic Coast.

At present, Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River of China is the world's largest hydropower complex, with a capacity of 22500 megawatts.