The United States has awarded US$553,534 to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assess the potential to build the 100-MW Nzilo 2 hydroelectric project in DRC’s Katanga Province.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) awarded the grant to DRC utility Societe Nationale d’Electricite (SNEL) in an October 12 ceremony in Kinshasa.
The grant is to finance a study to establish the feasibility of the site and to include financial analyses and an implementation roadmap. TDA said Nzilo 2 has the capacity to produce up to 100 MW and is one of the more promising DRC sites for development.
The DRC awarded a US$7.2 million contract in 2006 to Anglo Belgian Corp. N.V. of Belgium to rehabilitate three hydroelectric projects in Katanga, including the 108-MW Nzilo (also spelled N’Zilo) on the Haut-Lualaba River. (HNN 8/28/06)
U.S. firms will be eligible to compete for the Nzilo 2 study contract. When available, a solicitation notice is to be listed on the TDA Internet site, www.ustda.gov. SNEL is to select the winning bidder.
