The government of the Republic of Congo announced on Wednesday that construction on a significant new hydroelectric dam will commence in January 2025.
The dam, to be built at the Sounda site in the southern part of the country, is expected to generate between 600 and 800 megawatts of electricity. The project, estimated to cost around 8.5 billion euros ($9.4 billion), will be financed by China.
Government spokesman Thierry Moungalla stated that the dam’s construction is a long-awaited step towards strengthening the country’s electricity supply. The project is expected to be completed by June 2030.
China has already played a crucial role in Congo-Brazzaville’s energy infrastructure, having financed the construction of the Imboulou hydroelectric dam in 2011. This dam, with a capacity of 120 MW, is currently the largest in the country.
The need for increased electricity production is particularly pressing in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the two major cities in Congo-Brazzaville. These cities frequently experience power outages, which the government has attributed to mismanagement by the public electricity operator.
With the construction of the new Sounda dam, Congo-Brazzaville aims to improve its energy security and reduce its reliance on imported electricity.