The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million credit to support the first phase of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Inga 3 Development Program. The program is part of a broader $1 billion initiative and will begin with investments aimed at improving local infrastructure, services, and employment opportunities in the Kongo Central region.
The funding, provided through the International Development Association (IDA), will support projects that benefit around 100 communities, or 1.2 million people, living near the Inga site. These projects include expanded access to clean water, distributed renewable energy, rural roads, and training programs for skills and higher education. Approximately 10,000 people are expected to benefit from the training.
Access to electricity in the DRC is currently limited to just 21% of the population. Under the country’s National Energy Compact and the Africa-wide Mission 300 initiative, the government aims to raise this figure to 62% by 2030. The Inga 3 Development Program is designed to support this goal by boosting energy generation capacity and accelerating energy sector reforms.
Bob Mabiala, head of the Agency for the Development and Promotion of Grand Inga (ADPI-DRC), said: “The electricity generation potential at the Inga site is one of the largest in the world. The development of Inga 3’s hydropower will be transformative for DRC. By increasing access to clean, renewable and affordable energy for Congolese households and industries, it will serve as a motor for inclusive growth and jobs. Laying solid technical and governance foundations and earning community support will be essential to realize this challenge.”
The Inga 3 hydropower project is expected to produce between 3,000 and 11,000MW of electricity, depending on its final design. It follows Inga 1 and Inga 2, two earlier hydropower plants built in 1972 and 1982 respectively, which together provide most of the electricity generated by the national utility, SNEL. Inga 3 could take around a decade to complete, due to its technical complexity and the need for coordination between the government, development partners, private sector, and civil society.
“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,” said Albert Zeufack, World Bank Division Director for Angola, Burundi, DRC and Sao Tome and Principe. “By supporting DRC’s vision for Inga through this program 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.”
The World Bank previously supported the Inga site through a 2014 grant of $73.1 million for technical assistance and planning, but withdrew from the project in 2016 due to strategic differences with the government. Only 6% of the funds had been disbursed at that time.
The Inga site, located on the Congo River between Kinshasa and the Atlantic Ocean, is considered one of the world’s most promising locations for hydropower. With a potential capacity of up to 42,000 MW, its development could benefit not only the DRC but also neighboring countries and the broader region.
The Inga 3 Development Program is also aligned with the World Bank’s efforts to support the DRC in becoming a key player in global climate solutions. The country’s hydropower potential, extensive rainforests, and critical mineral reserves position it to contribute significantly to the clean energy transition.
