The government of Congo-Brazzaville announced it has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Chinese company to build a hydroelectric project and dam in the region, starting next year.
The government entered into the MOU with China Overseas to develop the Sounda hydroelectric project, News Central reports, which is expected to cost around $9.4 billion. The project is expected to have a capacity of 600 MW to 800 MW, officials said, and construction is targeted to be completed by 2030.
In 2011, China financed the construction of Imboulou Dam and powerhouse, north of Brazzaville, with a 120 MW capacity that makes it the current largest hydro project in the country, Agence France-Presse reports. Power outages are common in the country, Agence France-Presse added, with its two major cities, Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, suffering one almost daily.
Congo-Brazzaville received 22% of its electricity generation from hydro in 2021, sitting at 0.90 TWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The remaining 78% came from natural gas. Electricit capacity derived from hydropower remained stable over the period from 2013 to 2022, while the country’s total electricity capacity increased 0.3 GW, mostly driven by fossil fuels.
Hydropower accounted for 25% of Congo-Brazzaville’s total installed electricity capacity in 2021. As of early 2024, the country had three hydropower plants. EIA said the country has “significant” hydropower potential, estimated at 3.9 GW, but only 5% of this power has been developed.
The World Bank has estimated that only 50% of the Congolese population had access to electricity in 2021 — a 10% increase since 2010.
