Congo inks agreement with Africa50 to triple power capacity

The Congolese government has inked an agreement with the pan-African investment platform Africa50 to mobilize funds for tripling the capacity of the Congo Power Station.

The infrastructure, which currently has a capacity of 300 MW, should increase its capacity to 450 MW then to 900 MW by 2027.

Increased production from the station could improve Congo’s electricity production and, therefore, end the power cuts in the largest cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.

According to the agreement, Africa50, an infrastructure investment platform that was founded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), will evaluate the project to ensure that it is bankable and will take the necessary measures to mobilize the necessary funds for its implementation.

Last year, the debt-crippled Congolese government approved a plan to dissolve its loss-making power and water utilities and replace them with three public limited companies.

The government said the power company Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNE) and water utility Société Nationale de Distribution d’Eau (SNDE) had failed to reach sufficient profit levels despite heavy state investment.

The country has a considerable hydrographic network and its water resources are estimated at 842 billion m3. The capacity of already identified sites for power production is estimated at 14 000 MW.