The multiphase program will help lay the foundations for the sustainable development of Inga 3 and create jobs
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025-The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a $250 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA)* as the first phase of a $1 billion Inga 3 Development Program. This long-term program is a multiphase approach that will help the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) lay the foundations for the sustainable development of Inga 3-DRC's largest power project to date-starting with investments in local people, infrastructure and jobs.
Access to energy is one of the most significant roadblocks to DRC's economic transformation and job creation at scale. Only 21% of Congolese people have access to electricity, but this is set to change. Under DRC's National Energy Compact, aligned with the Africa-wide Mission 300 initiative, the government is embarking on a range of investments and reforms designed to increase power generation, attract private sector investors and improve the performance of the national energy utility, with the goal of lifting electricity access to 62% by 2030. The Inga 3 Development Program will boost the pace of institutional change and provide much-needed power generation capacity to sustain the country's energy progress beyond 2030.
"The electricity generation potential at the Inga site is one of the largest in the world. The development of Inga 3's hydropower will be transformative for DRC. By increasing access to clean, renewable and affordable energy for Congolese households and industries, it will serve as a motor for inclusive growth and jobs. Laying solid technical and governance foundations and earning community support will be essential to realize this challenge," said Bob Mabiala, head of the Agency for the Development and Promotion of Grand Inga (ADPI-DRC).
The first phase of the Inga 3 Development Program will focus on local development opportunities in Kongo Central, to improve the living conditions and economic prospects of approximately 100 communities (1.2 million people) living close to Inga. These communities will directly benefit from improved basic services and infrastructure that they have prioritized, including clean water, distributed renewable energy and rural roads. This will create economic opportunities and jobs. Additionally, skills development and higher education training will build local capacity to fill jobs created by Inga.
The World Bank's financial support and technical assistance will help ADPI-DRC manage the Inga Program and finalize preparations for Inga 3, the third plant at a site on the Congo river that includes two older hydropower plants which provide most of DRC's electricity. This includes support for detailed studies, capacity building, and project structuring. Inga 3's scale - potentially generating between 2 to 11 GW of power, and its technical and stakeholder complexity, mean that its preparation and construction will take around a decade and require government, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to come together.
"This is an opportunity to write a new page in DRC's development story, one that harnesses the country's rich resources to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty. By supporting DRC's vision for Inga through this program and complementary investments in governance, education and infrastructure, the World Bank Group, together with partners, can significantly contribute to converting DRC's natural resources into economic growth, jobs, and human development for the Congolese people," said Albert Zeufack, World Bank Division Director for Angola, Burundi, DRC and Sao Tome and Principe.
*The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world's poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people's lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world's 78 poorest countries, 40 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $563 billion to 116 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $34.5 billion over the last three years (FY22-FY24), with about 70 percent going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks
