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Zambia, DR Congo revive plans for
$4bn hydroelectric power project
ZAMBIA ZAMBIA and its northwestern neighbour, the The agreement signed on June 13 follows up
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have on one made in 2015 under which construction
signed a memorandum of understanding to on the project was due to begin in 2017 and was
revive the 1,188MW Luapula River hydropower slated for completion by 2020. At the time, Water
generation project and the Kolwezi/ Solwezi Journalists Africa estimated the cost of the pro-
transmission line. ject at $4bn.
The MoU was signed in Zambia’s capital, The Zambian and Congolese governments
Lusaka, by the country’s energy minister, Peter had signed an MoU in April 2018, setting out
Kapalaand, and his Congolese counterpart, a new timetable for the joint development of
Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity the hydropower plant on the Luapula. The
Olivier Mwenze Mukaleng, the Lusaka Times of agreement set 2021 as the date for the award
Zambia reports. of the contract following a feasibility study and
The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation environmental and social impact assessment
and the DRC’s SNEL will execute the project on finalisation.
the Luapula River basin, a section of the Congo Project-related studies were being funded
River, Africa’s second-longest, which will include through the Southern African Development
a 1,188MW hydropower plant. Community (SADC) Project Preparation and
The Congo River, with its basin straddling the Development Facility, acting through its agent
Equator, offers the DRC an exploitable energy the Development Bank of Southern Africa as
potential estimated at 100,000MW, about 37% the fund manager. Funding for the activities
of the total African potential and nearly 6% of was provided by KfW Bank of Germany and the
global potential. The Grand INGA Dam has the World Bank.
potential to produce 39,000MW. Zambia and the DRC have launched sev-
The project will also involve the construction eral bilateral undertakings in recent years to
of a 330kv transmission line from Solwezi in strengthen economic cooperation, including an
Zambia to Kolwezi in the DRC, according to the April 30 accord signed by their respective pres-
Lusaka Times. idents for the manufacture of the power cells.
P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 24 16•June•2022
