The Kakobola hydropower dam, a key project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has entered its final phase, during which transmission lines and supply networks are being set up. Teddy Lwamba, the Ministry of Electricity, presented this phase during the May 23 Council of Ministers.  On the occasion, he also signaled the facility’s imminent commissioning.

According to official meeting minutes, "the Minister of Finance was instructed to take charge of the costs enabling the completion of the work," though specific financial details and completion deadlines remain undisclosed. The firm in charge of the works is also unknown at present. However, after a four-year hiatus, work resumed in August 2020, with reports indicating that the Indian firm WAPCOS Ltd was tasked with constructing the transmission lines.

According to Minister Lwamba, the first phase is already complete, with the construction of the 10.5-megawatt power plant. Situated in the Gungu territory of Kwilu province, the project commenced in 2010 under the stewardship of the Indian company Angelique International Ltd. The total project cost was estimated at US$55 million, jointly financed by India Exim Bank and the Congolese government.

The minutes from the Council of Ministers meeting held on June 10, 2022, state: "The Minister of Finance has been instructed to release the necessary funds corresponding to the Democratic Republic of Congo's counterpart to this project, and to examine with all of his departments the possibilities of granting all the facilities required to the Indian contractor, so that the supply of electricity to the towns of Kikwit, Gungu and Idiofa by the Kakobola power station will be effective before the end of April 2023."

Upon completion of the transmission and distribution lines, the power station is expected to supply electricity to the towns of Kikwit, Idiofa, and Gungu, as well as to the Catholic missions of Totshi and Aten, and the village of Butshamba, all located within Kwilu province.

Minister Lwamba also announced a forthcoming reform aimed at bolstering the commercial and technical operations of the Grande Centrale de Kakobola. An external entity will be engaged to assist in marketing the electricity produced. The minutes further reveal that an interministerial decree will be enacted to establish a provisional tariff to facilitate this commercialization.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho