- Congo’s Inga complex holds untapped energy potential for Africa’s digital expansion
- Project success depends on private capital and strong governance reforms
- World Bank financing shows renewed confidence in large-scale hydropower projects in Africa
The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to use the vast Inga hydroelectric complex to power next-generation AI tools and large-scale data center infrastructure.
Government officials say the site is already recognized as the world’s largest hydropower resource and could support the growth of Africa’s digital economy if it attracts the right mix of investment and regulation.
The Inga site on the Congo River has a theoretical capacity of 44 gigawatts, enough to power 88 nuclear reactors, but it currently produces less than 2 gigawatts due to underdevelopment and aging infrastructure.
A colossal project with untapped potential
Plans to expand the complex date back more than four decades, with several phases of the Grand Inga project still unrealized.
The next stage, known as Inga III, is designed to add about 11 gigawatts of capacity at an estimated cost of more than $20 billion.
Officials say the government is drafting an “Inga law” to provide tax and regulatory clarity.
This law aims to make the site more attractive to private partners capable of managing both design and construction.
Momentum around Inga III has grown as the country’s mining industry faces growing energy shortages.
The World Bank has pledged $1 billion to advance the project, including a first payment of $250 million in 2025, and has also promised to use its Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency to help reduce risks and attract private capital.
Congolese officials view this combination of public and private financing as essential to transforming long-standing projects into functional electricity generation.
However, these partnerships have a mixed record in Africa, often blocked by problems of transparency, public procurement and governance.
Although uncertain, Congo’s proposal is part of a broader trend linking renewable energy projects to the rise of computer AI.
Advocates say Inga’s water resources and geographic position could provide both abundant energy benefits and natural cooling advantages.
Yet until construction advances and regulatory structures stabilize, the vision of propelling Africa’s digital transformation through the Inga Complex remains more promising than convincing.
Via Knowledge of data centers
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