The Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are expected to resume talks on the long-delayed Inga 3 Dam project. This marks the revival of one of Africa’s most ambitious energy plans.

Congo’s government stated that discussions would restart in April. South Africa’s electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will visit Kinshasa to review and update existing energy agreements tied to the project.

Inga 3 Project Overview

Inga 3 forms part of the wider Grand Inga scheme on the Congo River. The hydropower project has been under consideration for years. Once constructed, it could produce between 4,800 megawatts and 11,000 megawatts of electricity although final project specifications are still being studied.

The two countries already have a political agreement for Congo to export 2.5GW to South Africa.

South Africa to Increase Power Supply from Inga 3 to 5,000MW

Furthermore, the ongoing talks are expected to revisit that deal and consider increasing supply to as much as 5,000 megawatts. This reflects South Africa’s growing power needs.

If developed, the project could also feed electricity into several regional grids across southern, eastern and central Africa. This will position Congo as a key power exporter.

Also, according to analysts, this could help ease chronic electricity shortages in parts of the continent, though timelines remain unclear.

Significance of the Project

The World Bank which is supporting early-stage work of the project has described Inga 3 as a project with the potential to generate export revenue for Congo. This can be witnessed in Uganda’s Karuma hydropower plant which also exports surplus electricity to its neighboring countries, earning the country revenue.

Also, the Inga 3 will improving electricity supply in Kinshasa and nearby industrial areas.

Challenges Facing Inga 3 Project

However, significant challenges still stand. The project is still at the preparation stage,. Its costs are expected to exceed $10 billion and no final investment decision yet in place.

To move forward, Congolese authorities are working on financing structures with the Agency for the Development and Promotion of the Grand Inga Project (ADPI), supported by international partners including the World Bank and France’s development agency.

World Bank’s Commitment to the Project

The World Bank has committed up to $1 billion over 10 years to support the broader development programme, with the first tranche approved in 2025.

As for now, the renewed engagement signals a fresh attempt by Congo to bring back investors and partners around a project that has long promised to reshape Africa’s energy landscape, but has yet to move beyond planning.

Project Factsheet

Location: Inga Falls, Congo River

Current Stage: Project Preparation & Transaction Support

Estimated Capacity: 4,800 MW (Initial “Low Head” design) up to 11,000 MW

Total Estimated Cost: $10 billion – $14 billion

Expected Construction: Targeted to begin 2028–2032

Financing & Key Partners

 

World Bank: Approved a $1 billion “Inga 3 Development Program” over 10 years. The first $250 million tranche (approved June 2025) is currently being used for technical studies, vocational training, and social safeguards.

French Development Agency (AFD): Signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2026 to provide technical and institutional support.

African Development Bank (AfDB): Providing transaction support and feasibility study funding.

South Africa: Remains the primary “off-taker” (buyer), with current negotiations (April 2026) aiming to increase their purchase agreement from 2,500 MW to 5,000 MW.

Project Team

Agency for the Development and Promotion of Grand Inga (ADPI): The primary Congolese government body responsible for the project’s strategy, legal framework, and investor selection.

Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity (DRC): Overseas the national energy policy and high-level bilateral negotiations.

SNEL (Société Nationale d’Électricité): The DRC’s state utility, which will manage domestic distribution and integration with existing Inga 1 and 2 infrastructure.

The World Bank (IDA): Providing the largest share of funding ($1 billion over 10 years). The first $250 million tranche is currently active for environmental and social studies.

French Development Agency (AFD): Signed a major MoU in February 2026 to provide technical expertise, specifically for training engineers and spatial planning.

African Development Bank (AfDB): A long-term partner providing transaction advisory services and funding for regional transmission studies.

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA): Involved in financing the transmission corridor connecting the DRC to the South African grid.

Eskom (South Africa): The primary customer. Negotiations in April 2026 are focused on a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for up to 5,000 MW.

SAPP (Southern African Power Pool): The coordinating body for the regional grid that will facilitate the transit of electricity through Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

China Three Gorges Corporation: Led the “Pro-Inga” Chinese consortium that previously signed a joint development agreement with the DRC.

Fortescue Future Industries (FFI): While they previously held exclusive rights for “Green Hydrogen” development at Inga, their focus in 2026 has shifted more toward internal R&D, though they remain a potential partner for industrial-scale energy use.