DR Congo Launches Hydroelectric Project to Electrify Kananga

A significant step has been taken towards electrifying Kananga and its surrounding areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the launch of "Hydro Mbombo SAS." This new entity will manage a hydroelectric power plant to be constructed on the Mbombo Falls in Kasaï-Central province.

The project is a joint venture between the Fonds de promotion de l'industrie (FPI) and the Agence nationale d'électrification en milieu rural et périurbain (ANSER). The contract was signed on July 17, 2026, in Kinshasa. The planned power plant is expected to generate 20 megawatts of electricity, primarily utilizing the Lulua River, located 15 kilometers from Kananga.

This initiative aligns with President Félix Tshisekedi's broader vision to electrify the nation's provinces, thereby fostering investment and driving economic development. Hervé Claude Batukonke, Director General of the FPI, described the Mbombo project as having "industrial and social vocation." The infrastructure will include the dam itself, associated facilities, access roads, and the entire energy transmission network to Kananga, encompassing transmission lines, substations, and distribution stations.

With the completion of the Mbombo dam, Kananga and its periphery, which currently suffer from an electrification rate below 1%, will experience a stable supply of electricity. This power is intended to benefit households, artisans, and industries alike. Feasibility studies financed by ANSER are nearing completion, and local communities are being encouraged to participate in the construction phase. Experts view the Mbombo Falls project as a crucial test of the country's new energy policy. Construction work on the infrastructure commenced in August 2023, with initial steps including the securing of land rights and the ongoing construction of access roads.

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Mbombo is a project with industrial and social vocation.