US and DRC advance plans for Grand Inga hydropower complex
The United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have established a joint governance committee to move forward with the development of the Grand Inga hydropower project.
Government representatives from the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) met in Paris to formally initiate the coordination and governance committee for the Grand Inga hydropower complex. This move follows a strategic partnership agreement signed in December 2025, which aims to address infrastructure, energy, and mineral supply chains.
Grand Inga is projected to generate up to 42,000 megawatts, significantly exceeding the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam in China. The project is seen as essential to the DRC’s industrial ambitions, specifically shifting from raw mineral extraction to local processing. Currently, only approximately 20 percent of the Congolese population has access to reliable electricity.
"Congo does not intend to remain a place where minerals are dug up and shipped out," said Deputy Prime Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba. The project is central to the country's national goal of extending electricity access to 62 percent of the population by 2030. Officials estimate that the initial phases of the development could create thousands of jobs.
The project governance committee is tasked with overseeing development in phases while incorporating environmental and social safeguards. The partnership also includes U.S.-backed investments in transportation infrastructure, such as the Lobito Corridor rail link, to support the broader economic development of the region.