DR Congo and the US prepare to advance the proposed hydropower project through a new joint coordination committee….reports Africa Daily News Desk
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the United States are preparing to advance the Grand Inga hydropower project, with officials holding discussions in Paris ahead of the first meeting of a joint coordination and governance committee on Monday, October 26.
The Congolese delegation, led by Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba, held preparatory working sessions with officials from the World Bank Group and other stakeholders ahead of the committee meeting.
The delegation includes representatives from the ministries responsible for national economy, finance, and hydraulic resources and electricity, alongside officials from the presidency, the prime minister’s office, ADPI-DRC, the National Electricity Company (SNEL) and the Congolese diplomatic mission in France.
The committee was established under a strategic partnership agreement signed by the DRC and the US on December 4, 2025. It is intended to strengthen coordination between the two countries on the implementation of the Grand Inga project, a major proposed hydropower development in the DRC.
Preparatory discussions focused on the project’s phased development, identifying energy requirements, electricity transmission infrastructure and the technical, economic and financial conditions needed to move forward.
The talks also examined how the project could support wider economic development beyond electricity generation, including industrialisation, the processing of locally available natural resources, employment creation and improvements in living standards.
Focus on regional energy and economic development
Grand Inga is envisioned as a major source of hydropower that could expand electricity generation and support economic activity in the DRC and the wider region. Its development would require substantial infrastructure, investment and coordination among the parties involved.
The latest discussions aim to move the project from long-standing ambitions towards a structured and economically viable development plan. Key considerations include determining energy demand, establishing transmission networks and assessing the project’s financial and technical requirements.
The initiative also reflects efforts to link large-scale energy infrastructure with the DRC’s broader development priorities. Increased electricity availability could support industrial activity, while local processing of natural resources could create additional economic value and employment opportunities.
However, the project’s progress will depend on addressing its technical, financial and infrastructure requirements, alongside effective coordination between the participating institutions.
The inaugural meeting of the DRC-US Coordination and Governance Committee is expected to provide a framework for aligning priorities and organising the next stages of work.
The preparatory sessions in Paris mark a step in the bilateral process to advance Grand Inga, although the project’s implementation will depend on the outcomes of subsequent planning, financing and development efforts.
