DRC dam: Fortescue for the Grand Inga Project

Australia's Fortescue Metals said it was in talks to develop a dam in the DRC: the Grand Inga project.|Australia's Fortescue Metals said it was in talks to develop a dam in the DRC: the Grand Inga project.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

A dam in the DRC could be built. Australia’s Fortescue Metals said it was in talks with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He hopes to be chosen to develop a hydroelectric project that could become the world’s largest.

DRC dam: Fortescue negotiates to develop the Grand Inga project

Fortescue Metals Group confirms that discussions are underway with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Fortescue Future Industries has been granted exclusive rights for the potential development of the huge Grand Inga project.

Grand Inga contains seven potential hydroelectric power stations. It could generate more than 40,000 MW of electricity to supply large populations on the African continent. If completed, the project will eclipse the combined electricity production of the Three Gorges in China and Itaipu in Latin America.

The loss of a $73 million equity stake

However, the DRC has had difficulty in obtaining funding for this project. The World Bank cancelled its $73 million participation in 2016. At issue were environmental and social studies carried out after the Inga agency was placed under Kabila’s direct control.

In the absence of hydroelectric power stations, the DRC is unable to provide light for the vast majority of its 80 million inhabitants. To make up for this shortfall, the government plans to build six additional dams. But these projects have been delayed several times by funding difficulties and disputes with partners.

Two dams for 1,800 MW

The two existing dams, completed in 1972 and 1982, have a combined installed capacity of almost 1,800 MW. In 2018, Chinese and Spanish consortiums signed an agreement to develop a third dam, called Inga 3.

But work has not yet begun, due to questions about financial viability. In addition, one of the main Spanish companies involved in the agreement, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios, withdrew from the project last year.

DRC dam: $80 billion investment

Fortescue’s involvement is the latest twist in Congo’s decades-long efforts to develop Inga. The proposed expansion would roughly double the size of China’s Three Gorges Dam, currently the largest in the world. Total development costs have been estimated at up to $80 billion.

The discussions with Fortescue could mark a new change of direction on the part of the Congolese government. If completed, the Grand Inga dam could help overcome electricity shortages. These are a major obstacle to the development of the Congo and Africa in general.

Meeting with the President of the DRC

Fortescue Chairman Andrew Forrest recently met DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to discuss the project. Mr. Forrest stated that Fortescue would use Inga’s energy to produce hydrogen, which would be exported worldwide. In particular, he told reporters:

“The capital cost of this project will amount to several tens of billions of dollars. Direct and indirect jobs will number in the hundreds of thousands.”

Fortescue aims to develop its renewable energies sector

Andrew Forrest wants to help relaunch the hydroelectric project, as part of his green energy development strategy. He is looking for large-scale renewable projects.

Indeed, he has set himself the goal of transforming Fortescue. It aims to go from being the world’s fourth-largest shipper of iron ore to a major producer of clean energy. The company has declared that it will set aside 10% of its annual profits to invest in ecological initiatives.

Many obstacles despite government promises

No formal agreement has yet been reached. The project could face further obstacles, as Congo regularly ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in which to do business. The management of the Inga project was also criticized under Kabila for its lack of transparency.

Other negotiations in progress

However, Mr. Tshisekedi has promised to connect half the population to the network within the next decade. The development of Grand Inga is one of his priorities, according to his advisors. He doesn’t just negotiate with Fortescue.

Last year, he met with German turbine manufacturers and natural gas companies. They too are looking to produce green hydrogen in their own country.

The 2025 edition of the Renewable Electricity System Observatory warns of the widening gap between French energy ambitions and industrial reality, requiring immediate acceleration of investments in solar, wind and associated infrastructure.
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has raised its stake to approximately 15% in ISAGEN, one of Colombia’s leading power producers, through a $535mn investment alongside Brookfield.
New Delhi plans to allocate INR6.4tn ($77bn) to develop transmission infrastructure for 76 GW of electricity from the Brahmaputra Basin by 2047, amid growing cross-border pressures.
Moscow strengthens industrial joint ventures with Tajikistan by leveraging hydropower, agriculture, and mining in a strategy based on mutual interest and economic complementarity.
Kogi State Electricity Distribution Limited reported a ₦1.3bn ($882,011) loss due to power fraud, threatening its operational viability in Kogi State.
More than 40 developers will gather in Livingstone from 26 to 28 November to turn Southern Africa’s energy commitments into bankable and interconnected projects.
Citepa projections confirm a marked slowdown in France's climate trajectory, with emissions reductions well below targets set in the national low-carbon strategy.
Gabon has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy’s Todini to develop two hydropower plants in Booué and Tsengué-Lélédi, with an estimated value of $1.78 billion to address electricity shortages.
The United States has threatened economic sanctions against International Maritime Organization members who approve a global carbon tax on international shipping emissions.
Global progress on electricity access slowed in 2024, with only 11 million new connections, despite targeted efforts in parts of Africa and Asia.
A parliamentary report questions the 2026 electricity pricing reform, warning of increased market exposure for households and a redistribution mechanism lacking clarity.
The US Senate has confirmed two new commissioners to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, creating a Republican majority that could reshape the regulatory approach to national energy infrastructure.
The federal government launches a CAD3mn call for proposals to fund Indigenous participation in energy and infrastructure projects related to critical minerals.
Opportunities are emerging for African countries to move from extraction to industrial manufacturing in energy technology value chains, as the 2025 G20 discussions highlight these issues.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable power capacity could more than double by 2030, driven by the rise of solar photovoltaics despite supply chain pressures and evolving policy frameworks.
Algeria plans to allocate $60 billion to energy projects by 2029, primarily targeting upstream oil and gas, while developing petrochemicals, renewables and unconventional resources.
Le groupe Axian renforce son portefeuille énergétique avec le projet de barrage de Volobe à Madagascar, une initiative estimée à $670mn visant à étendre l’accès à l’électricité dans un pays en proie à de fortes tensions sociales.
China set a record for clean technology exports in August, driven by surging sales of electric vehicles and batteries, with more than half of the growth coming from non-OECD markets.
A night-time attack on Belgorod’s power grid left thousands without electricity, according to Russian local authorities, despite partial service restoration the following morning.
Nagano Prefecture has commissioned a new 1.5MW hydropower plant to supply Seiko Epson’s Ina facility under a sleeved power purchase agreement managed by Chubu Electric Power Miraiz.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.