- KfW invested €20 million to modernise and digitise the Inga I and II hydropower plants substations, improving power distribution in the DRC.
- The upgrade connected four turbines to a new switchgear system, allowing Kinshasa’s control centre to detect faults early and minimise outages.
- The project aims to address DRC’s low electricity access, which means that only 20% of the population is connected to the grid while tapping into the country’s vast hydropower potential.
Germany’s KfW has invested €20 million ($22.1 million) to modernise the substation at the Inga I and II hydropower plants in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) directed the project to improve the reliability and efficiency of the DRC’s electricity supply.
Even after upgrades, the outdated substation couldn’t fully utilise energy from the Congo River’s two largest hydropower plants. KfW’s digitalisation of the substation will stabilise the grid, reduce energy losses, and enhance power distribution.
Markus Schlömann, KfW’s representative for the DRC and Chad, highlighted the project’s significance. “By modernising the substation, we’ve secured the electricity supply in the Congo,” he said. He also noted the crucial role of electricity distribution, which often receives less attention than power generation.
In addition to the €20 million investment, KfW provided €4 million ($4.4 million) to link four turbines at the power plant to a new switchgear system. This system now gives the control centre in Kinshasa direct access to Inga II’s substation, allowing quick fault detection and resolution. These advancements will minimise outages and increase grid reliability.
Modernisation faced several challenges. The team had to keep the plant operational by shutting down only parts of it at a time, slowing the work. COVID-19 restrictions also delayed progress. Despite these setbacks, the team completed the project this year, successfully integrating the four generating units.
In the DRC, less than 20% of the population has access to electricity. Out of 18 million households, only 2 million are connected to the grid. Most people rely on expensive diesel generators or live without electricity.
Despite these limitations, the DRC holds massive hydropower potential. With a combined capacity of 1.7 GW, the Inga I and II plants generate 90% of the electricity used in Kinshasa. They also power the southern regions through a 1,000-km high-voltage line. Industrial companies consume the bulk of this green electricity.
Before the upgrade, the substation’s poor condition caused frequent outages and high power losses, preventing the full use of generated energy. The modernised substation will significantly reduce these issues, though it won’t fully meet the country’s energy needs. The World Bank is now exploring further expansions of the Inga plants to address the growing demand.
Germany’s BMZ emphasised the DRC’s strategic importance. The country generates almost all its power from renewable sources and holds Africa’s most considerable hydropower potential, estimated at 100 GW. Germany seeks to help the DRC harness this potential through this partnership, fostering economic growth and stability in the Great Lakes region.
Germany’s KfW has invested €20 million ($22.1 million) to modernise the substation at the Inga I and II hydropower plants in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) directed the project to improve the reliability and efficiency of the DRC’s electricity supply.
Even after upgrades, the outdated substation couldn’t fully utilise energy from the Congo River’s two largest hydropower plants. KfW’s digitalisation of the substation will stabilise the grid, reduce energy losses, and enhance power distribution.
Markus Schlömann, KfW’s representative for the DRC and Chad, highlighted the project’s significance. “By modernising the substation, we’ve secured the electricity supply in the Congo,” he said. He also noted the crucial role of electricity distribution, which often receives less attention than power generation.
In addition to the €20 million investment, KfW provided €4 million ($4.4 million) to link four turbines at the power plant to a new switchgear system. This system now gives the control centre in Kinshasa direct access to Inga II’s substation, allowing quick fault detection and resolution. These advancements will minimise outages and increase grid reliability.
Modernisation faced several challenges. The team had to keep the plant operational by shutting down only parts of it at a time, slowing the work. COVID-19 restrictions also delayed progress. Despite these setbacks, the team completed the project this year, successfully integrating the four generating units.
In the DRC, less than 20% of the population has access to electricity. Out of 18 million households, only 2 million are connected to the grid. Most people rely on expensive diesel generators or live without electricity.
Despite these limitations, the DRC holds massive hydropower potential. With a combined capacity of 1.7 GW, the Inga I and II plants generate 90% of the electricity used in Kinshasa. They also power the southern regions through a 1,000-km high-voltage line. Industrial companies consume the bulk of this green electricity.
Before the upgrade, the substation’s poor condition caused frequent outages and high power losses, preventing the full use of generated energy. The modernised substation will significantly reduce these issues, though it won’t fully meet the country’s energy needs. The World Bank is now exploring further expansions of the Inga plants to address the growing demand.
Germany’s BMZ emphasised the DRC’s strategic importance. The country generates almost all its power from renewable sources and holds Africa’s most considerable hydropower potential, estimated at 100 GW. Germany seeks to help the DRC harness this potential through this partnership, fostering economic growth and stability in the Great Lakes region.