- Congo’s Inga complex has untapped energy potential for Africa’s digital expansion
- The project’s success depends on private capital and strong governance reforms.
- World Bank financing signals renewed faith in Africa’s large-scale hydropower projects
The Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to use the vast Inga hydroelectric complex to power next-generation artificial intelligence tools and large-scale data center infrastructure.
Government officials argue that the site is already recognized as the world’s largest water resource and could support Africa’s growing 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 currently produces less than 2 gigawatts due to underdevelopment and aging infrastructure.
A huge project with unrealized potential
Plans to expand the complex date back more than four decades and several phases of the Grand Inga project have yet to be realized.
The next stage, known as Inga III, is designed to add about 11 gigawatts of capacity at a projected cost of more than $20 billion.
Officials say the government is drafting an “Inga Law” to provide fiscal 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 increased as the country’s mining industry faces growing energy shortages.
The World Bank has pledged $1 billion to advance the project, including an initial payment of $250 million in 2025, and has also promised to use its Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency to help reduce risk and attract private capital.
Congolese officials see this combination of public and private financing as vital to turning long-standing plans into functional power generation.
However, these partnerships have a mixed track record in Africa, often stalling over transparency, procurement and governance issues.
Although uncertain, Congo’s proposal aligns with a broader trend linking renewable energy projects with the rise of artificial intelligence computing.
Proponents say Inga’s water resources and geographic position could offer advantages of both abundant energy and natural cooling.
However, until construction progresses and regulatory structures are stabilized, the vision of driving Africa’s digital transformation through the Inga complex remains more promise than proof.
Through Data center knowledge
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
