The long-awaited Mbombo hydropower station project is underway. Construction works for the station were kicked off on 15 February 2025 by Joseph Moïse Kambulu Nkonko, governor of the Kasaï-Central province which houses the station. 

Located on the Lulua River, about 9.3 miles (15 km) from downtown Kananga, the station should have an installed capacity of 10 MW. It will enable more people in the region to have electricity. For now, it is not officially known how many direct and indirect jobs the project will create, nor how many people it will benefit. 

Set to cost up to $35 million, the plant will be managed by the Agence Nationale de l'Électrification et des Services Énergétiques en Milieux Rural et Périurbain (ANSER). Established in 2016, ANSER is responsible for electrifying areas that lack private funding.

The project should be completed in under 24 months, with a target delivery date in February 2027. Provincial authorities urge residents to follow the plant’s construction, closely. Governor Kambulu emphasized that the project's success hinges on community vigilance and commitment, highlighting the importance of transparency and diligence in implementing this vital infrastructure.

This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho