This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On June 12, 2020, President Félix Tshisekedi announced plans to hold an African Heads of State meeting to promote the Grand Inga dam project and encourage interest in purchasing its energy output.
The meeting, scheduled for June and September-October 2020, aims to present the project's current and future opportunities and showcase the Democratic Republic of Congo's hydroelectric potential.
According to President Tshisekedi, the conference will be a virtual, high-level, multinational, and multi-sector forum on the Grand Inga, in partnership with the African Union, DA-Nepad, and the African Union's High Representative, Raila Odinga.
The event will bring together Heads of State and representatives from DR Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, UN agencies, the African private sector, and continental African organizations.
The Grand Inga dam has the potential to provide up to 40% of the continent's electricity needs.
By leveraging the Grand Inga project, African governments aim to create economies of scale and accelerate efforts towards renewable hydroelectricity projects, innovation, and energy efficiency through regional cooperation and integration.
