- AfDB and Congo signed $1.5 million in grants to improve energy access and reduce the energy deficit.
- The grants will fund hydroelectric dam studies and transmission line feasibility designs.
- These efforts align with the “Mission 300” initiative, targeting electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Republic of Congo signed two grant agreements worth $1.5 million to strengthen Congo’s energy sector, expand electricity access, and reduce its energy deficit.
The first grant of $585,000 from the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund will finance studies for hydroelectric dam development at Mbanza Ndounga in the south and Linzolo, 20 km south of Brazzaville. These studies aim to pave the way for future hydroelectric infrastructure, increase electricity generation, and support energy self-sufficiency.
The second grant of $995,000, sourced from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund (KOAFEC), will fund feasibility studies and detailed designs for transmission lines between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville and between Loudima and Djambala.
The agreements were signed by Solomane Koné, the AfDB’s Acting Director General for Central Africa, and Ludovic Ngatse, Congo’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Integration.
“These grants solidify our partnership with the AfDB to improve energy access in Congo,” Ngatse said. “We will use these studies to achieve universal electricity for urban and rural areas.”
The funds will prepare critical investment projects that align with Congo’s energy objectives. They also contribute to the larger “Mission 300” initiative, a joint project between the AfDB and the World Bank to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Over the past decade, AfDB has led initiatives to scale up energy investments, including “Mission 300,” the Desert to Power initiative, and the Africa Energy Marketplace.
“For years, we’ve collaborated to help African countries meet their energy goals,” Koné said, reaffirming AfDB’s commitment to Congo’s development.
AfDB’s support for Congo aligns with its Country Strategy Paper (CSP), which focuses on building sustainable infrastructure and strengthening high-growth value chains. This partnership reflects the shared vision of both AfDB and Congo to improve energy access and promote economic growth.