During President Biden’s recent visit to Angola, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi brought up the Inga 3 project, saying it is key to maximizing the Lobito Corridor’s potential. According to  Tshisekedi, Inga 3, "along with other renewable energy initiatives, is essential to provide a reliable, sustainable energy supply tailored to the requirements" of the expanding industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

President Tshisekedi described the Lobito Corridor as more than just a logistics route; he described it as an engine for driving economic and social transformation. An American official, sharing this opinion, said the Lobito Corridor "is not simply mining infrastructure." He believes renovating the railroad will attract more investors "with high standards" to the mines of Zambia and the DRC.

The same source cited KoBold, a Californian startup backed by notable figures such as Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Bill Gates (Microsoft), which plans to invest in the DRC after establishing an initial base in Zambia. US officials indicated that this is just the beginning, as other world-class investors could follow in a sector currently dominated by companies primarily controlled by Chinese capital.

The American official also highlighted that the Lobito Corridor offers rapid development opportunities for other sectors, particularly agriculture, by facilitating equipment acquisition and the swift evacuation of products. Furthermore, according to official US discourse, the corridor could enhance the competitiveness of electric battery costs due to reduced transport expenses and the potential establishment of production units near critical mineral extraction sites, with rail exports taking less than 50 hours from Luau on the Angola-DRC border.

Inga 3: Ongoing Discussions

However, establishing these various value chains hinges on having abundant, high-quality energy available—a significant area for improvement in the DRC. During a panel discussion at the 10th edition of the Makutano Forum, Fabrice Lusinde, Managing Director of Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), revealed that over the past four years, the country's mining sector has had to import electricity and generator fuel equivalent to $5 billion.

With a power grid needing renovation and dams operating below their installed capacity, Inga 3 is becoming crucial for transforming Lobito into a corridor dedicated not only to copper and cobalt but also as a business link connecting Angola, Zambia, and the DRC to international markets.

Despite its importance, the Inga 3 project is still far from realization. Ongoing discussions are focused on developing a model for the hydroelectric dam, with a preference for phased capacity installation. Additionally, such infrastructure requires effective coordination across the entire electricity market value chain—including maintenance, efficient distribution, and logistics management. World Bank officials have announced plans for a $1 billion investment over ten years; however, this amount has yet to be validated by their Board of Directors.

President Félix Tshisekedi affirmed that the DRC is fully committed to strengthening the Lobito Corridor. "We continue to strengthen the institutional and legal framework to encourage private investment and guarantee transparent and responsible management of our resources. Transparency and good governance remain top priorities to build trust and foster win-win partnerships," he stated.

Georges Auréole Bamba