The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and New York-based energy investor HYDRO-LINK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct a $1.5bn, 1150km electricity transmission line connecting Angola and the DRC.
The agreement was signed in Washington, DC, during the USA-DRC Economic and Investments Forum by Aimé Sakombi Molendo, the DRC’s Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity, and Paul Hinks, Chairman and CEO of HYDRO-LINK.
The project aims to deliver surplus hydropower from Angola to the DRC’s southeastern Copperbelt region, where mining and industrial operations face frequent power shortages. Completion is targeted for 2029.
According to HYDRO-LINK CEO Paul Hinks, the project will supply significant new energy capacity to both countries. “HYDRO-LINK is an investment that will deliver 1200MW of reliable and affordable electricity to the provinces of Angola and the DRC. It will support the mining sectors, local industries and the population over a vast area. High quality materials from the United States will be incorporated into the HYDRO-LINK project, creating jobs in American manufacturers facilities, as well as several thousand jobs in Angola and the DRC,” Hinks said.
Minister Sakombi Molendo said the project represents an important milestone for the DRC’s energy strategy. “This agreement, which follows the audience granted by His Excellency Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, to the CEO of HYDRO-LINK, marks an important step toward ensuring the energy security and economic development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”.
He added that “by leveraging Angola’s energy surplus and investing in cross-border infrastructure, we are responding to the urgent needs of our industrial and mining sectors while laying the groundwork for access to clean and reliable electricity for our citizens.”
“The Government of the DRC fully supports the transformative HYDRO-LINK project and the strategic partnerships that underpin it – a project that also contributes to regional integration while encouraging the construction of domestic electrical infrastructure currently being implemented by private titleholders, with the aim of reducing the energy deficit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside the Inga 3 program,” he said.
Haim Taib, Founder and President of the Menomadin and Mitrelli Group, a partner and investor in HYDRO-LINK, said the partnership reflects a broader development goal. “The partnership with HYDRO-LINK is a strategic move by Mitrelli to help improve the regional economy and it reflects our long-standing commitment to sustainable development in Africa. Beyond enabling trade and industrial growth, we believe infrastructure must serve the people, ensuring that energy access empowers communities, supports local development and creates new opportunities for the millions who live along this vital route through Angola and the DRC,” Taib said.
HYDRO-LINK has also signed agreements with the Government of Angola and with Swiss-based Mitrelli Group, which will serve as a major investor and project partner. Chicago-based engineering firm Sargent & Lundy will provide Owners Engineer and Independent Engineering services.
The 400 kV double-circuit transmission line will span approximately 1,150km and include around 3,500 steel lattice towers. It will feature US-manufactured 400 kV polymer insulators, ACCC® carbon-core conductors, and a 24-fiber optical ground wire system for telecommunications.
The line will serve several mining regions and communities along the route, including Saurimo, Cuango, Lucapa, and Luena in Angola, and Dilolo, Kisenge, and Kolwezi in the DRC.
