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DRC

A 'dam' fine war over Grand Inga among Tshisekedi's advisors

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“Kinshasa's pan-African plans for Grand Inga”

DRC

Kinshasa's pan-African plans for Grand Inga

Although their construction is being hampered by the very scale of the project in which they figure, the huge Inga III and Inga VIII hydroelectric dams offer the prospect of being able to generate tens of thousands of megawatts of electricity. Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi, whose standing at home has been weakened by his dispute with his predecessor Joseph Kabila, is trying to position himself as the harbinger of a project capable of providing electricity for the entire African continent. To do so, he needs to find the right candidates among the hordes of investors milling at his door. [...]

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi. © Gao Junya/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

Australian mining company Fortescue, backed by special advisor Alexy Kayembe, is Félix Tshisekedi's favourite for Grand Inga... for now. But two other advisors continue to make moves to take control of the colossal dam project. [...] (973 words)

Issue dated 15/02/2021 Reading time 4 minutes

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Energy Politics

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DRC
Adebayo Ogunlesi
African Union
Agence pour le développement et la promotion du projet Grand Inga
Agenda 2063
Alexis Kohler
Alexy Kayembe de Bampende
Andritz Hydro
Angela Merkel
Bronte Moules
Bruno Kapandji Kalala
Covid-19
Dereck Armstrong
Ecole nationale d'administration
EDF
Evelyne Stirn
Félix Tshisekedi
Fortescue Metals Group
Gernot Wagner
Global Infrastructure Partners
International Finance Corporation
Jean-Claude Kabongo
Jean-Claude Kabongo on the move
Jin-Yong Cai
Joseph Kabila
Liedekerke
Nicolas Kazadi
OL Consult
Olivier Tshilumba Chekinah
Postal Savings Bank of China
Siemens
State Power Investment Corp
The Inga Unified Consortium
Wang Yi
World Bank group
Xi Jinping

Despite Tony Blair's insistence, GIP finally says no to the Grand Inga project

The US-based Global Infrastructures Partners, owned by Nigerian businessman Adebayo Ogunlesi, has finally decided not to get involved in the scheme to build vast dams on the mighty Congo river. [...]

The prime minister of the DRC, Sama Lukonde Kyenge, received a delegation from Fortescue led by Julie Shuttleworth, CEO of Fortescue Future Industries, in Kinshasa on 30 May 2022. © DRC Prime Minister's Office

Spotlight

DRC Energy Mining Business 09/06/2022

Fortescue in Kinshasa to stake its claim to Grand Inga as rivals circle

As a rival project takes shape in Paris, the Australian miner Fortescue is going all out to secure the lead role in the development of mega-dams on the River Congo. [...]

The Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi during a visit to Doha International Airport. © DRC presidency

Spotlight

DRC Business 24/05/2022

Doha and Kinshasa finally consolidate ties

Investments from Qatar in DR Congo are expected to be announced shortly. Félix Tshisekedi is also preparing to open his first embassy in Qatar. [...]

DRC Business 16/05/2022

Global Sovereign Advisory acts as sherpa for Tshisekedi in Washington

Global Sovereign Advisory, a small French boutique bank, is helping Kinshasa in its talks with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. [...]

SIERRA LEONE Mining 12/04/2022

World Bank's IFC backs Freetown's quest for mining transparency

The International Finance Corporation is set to help Sierra Leone improve transparency and communications in the extractive sector, in line with the government's ambition to attract more investment. [...]

DRC Business 02/02/2022

The IFC comes to the rescue of the Maluku Special Economic Zone

Despite getting fresh backing from the World Bank's International Finance Corporation, the Maluku Special Economic Zone is struggling to take off. [...]

DRC Business 17/01/2022

CapitalKeys' ploy to make Kinshasa pay

After lodging an appeal last June, CapitalKeys is attempting some rather backhanded ways of recovering $16.6m in fees from the DRC. [...]

DRC Politics 05/01/2022

Kinshasa struggling to make the Jeux de la Francophonie deadline

As the official launch date on 19 August 2022 of the 9th edition of the Jeux de la Francophonie approaches, the Congolese government, which is hosting the event in Kinshasa, is making a last-ditch attempt to keep the games. [...]

Isidore Kwandja Ngembo, director of the 9th edition of the Jeux de la Francophonie, with Zeina Mina, director of the International Committee of the Jeux de la Francophonie. © DRC Ministry of Sports

DRC Infrastructures Diplomacy 03/11/2021

COP26: Between Grand Inga and DRC forestry capital, Félix Tshisekedi attempts grand slam in Glasgow

The DRC presidency has come out in force at the climate summit in Glasgow and is looking to give substance to its carbon reduction projects. Its main asset, the construction of the Grand Inga, will be the subject of a behind-the-scenes meeting with the African Union. [...]

Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi arrives for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. © Phil Noble/Reuters

DRC Infrastructures Business 01/11/2021

Transport company SCTP, a social ticking time bomb

The future of SCTP, the public company that manages the port of Matadi among others, is a source of great concern to the DRC authorities. [...]

The port of Matadi in the DRC is managed by the Société congolaise des transports et des ports (SCTP). © Guenterguni/iStock

KENYA Energy Business 14/09/2021

Kenya Power's finances raise alarm bells among lenders

Kenya Power and Lighting Co's financial backers, starting with the World Bank, will be keeping a close eye on the power distributor's efforts to turn around significant losses. [...]

DRC Energy Business 09/09/2021

Miga to the rescue of North Kivu's solar plans

Nuru (formely Kivu Green Energy), a DRC electricity company which is already active in North Kivu where it manages two solar mini-off-grids, has plans to expand in the area to raise its total output to 15. [...]

TANZANIA Infrastructures Business 06/09/2021

Dar es-Salaam rail freight project still waiting for rolling stock

The planned start this year of a block train service between Dar-es-Salaam and Isaka 970 km to the west, where there is a dry port serving neighbouring countries, looks likely to be delayed. [...]

CAPE VERDE Energy Business 24/08/2021

Cape Verde gets World Bank help to privatise its electricity company

The World Bank is to assist the government of Cape Verde to privatise national electricity company Electra by footing a $2m bill for consultancy services. [...]

DRC Energy Business 16/08/2021

China's Three Gorges definitively ousted from Grand Inga

Three years after Chinese state-owned firm Three Gorges signed a contract with Joseph Kabila's government, the company has been told it will no longer be given exclusive rights to develop the Inga III dam. [...]

DRC Business 26/07/2021

Tony Blair expresses private reservations over Fortescue's monopoly on Grand Inga

The former British prime minister, whose Tony Blair Institute has been helping the DRC to develop its economic strategy, has warned President Tshisekedi against allowing the Australian giant Fortescue to be in sole charge of the development of the Grand Inga mega-dams. [...]

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. © Henry Nicholls/Reuters

DJIBOUTI DRC Energy Mining Business 21/06/2021

Fortescue hopes to score double on hydrogen

Australian mining magnate Fortescue, which is scouring the continent for renewable energy projects, has its sights set on a large-scale hydrogen project in Djibouti. [...]

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi. © Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Inner circles

DRC Politics 18/06/2021

The temporal power of Tshisekedi's pastors

The deeply devout president has a handful of Pentecostal pastors among his team of advisors, who are not shy about wading into the political, diplomatic and economic arenas. [...]

DRC Energy Business 02/06/2021

AfDB wants Inga III mega-dam project put out to tender

The African Development Bank is in talks with DRC authorities over its support for one of the vast Grand Inga project hydro-electric dams and is keen to see companies compete to develop it. At stake is some $55m in financing and the bank's seal of approval. [...]

DRC Diplomacy 01/06/2021

Tshisekedi ready for digital revolution if it pleases major financial backers

The DRC's president is actively demonstrating his support of digitalising the nation's administration to reduce fraud and waste. He also hopes to appease his financial partners. [...]

DRC's president Felix Tshisekedi. © AFP / POOL / Ludovic MARIN

Attorney Pascal Agboyibor founded Asafo & Co shortly after being ousted from the US firm Orrick in 2019. © Asafo & Co

Focus

DRC Business 31/05/2021

How Orrick's former star Africa lawyer dodged sexual abuse allegations and rebuilt his practice

Star attorney Pascal Agboyibor was abruptly fired by US law firm Orrick in 2019 amid allegations of rape and sexual harassment which are still being investigated by the Paris bar association. The Togolose lawyer, who denies the accusations, has quickly bounced back in DRC, where his own new firm has won lucrative government contracts. [...]

DRC Business 26/05/2021

Blair Institute delivers economic policy plan for Tshisekedi's new government

With two years left of his presidential term, Félix Tshisekedi wants to define the shape of the DRC's economic policy through to 2030 and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has drafted report to help with the task. [...]

DRC Politics 21/05/2021

Games budget soars as head honcho awards village contract without tender

Didier Tshiyoyo, the man suddenly in sole charge of the Francophone Games, has bypassed normal procurement procedures to get the athletes' village built in a no-bid contract worth $113m, more than the events' entire original budget. [...]

DRC Energy Business 17/05/2021

Huafei Energy Investment keen to get cracking on Kalumba and Kibombo power plants

The private Chinese company Huafei Energy Investment has great expectations for its Kalumba and Kibombo dams, whose combined power could exceed 800 MW. [...]

BURKINA FASO Mining 04/05/2021

Transparency may shed harsh light on Burkina Faso's politicians

Ouagadougou is determined to disclose the identities of minor shareholders in Burkina Faso's mining companies, much to the dismay of the political class. [...]

WEST AFRICA Finance Business 30/04/2021

IFC finances Ruggieri family's African hotels

Weighed down by Covid-19, the Ruggieri business dynasty's Onomo hotel network has received a loan from the World Bank's sister institution, the International Finance Corporation. [...]

DRC Energy Business 16/04/2021

New cabinet make-up suggests new trajectory for Grand Inga

The Congolese president will likely reassert his control over the handling of the mega-dam, leaving little room for his new ministers to have much political sway. [...]

EGYPT Finance Business 29/03/2021

Former minister Dalia Khorshid takes root in Mauritius with new consultancy business

Egyptian businesswoman Dalia Khorshi, who has worked for the Sawiris' holding company Orascom, set up a new business in Mauritius in mid-March. This venture comes on top of the entrepreneur's secret services investment fund, Eagle Capital, and consultancy in Cairo. [...]

Egyptian former investment minister Dalia Khorshid. © Reuters

UGANDA Infrastructures Business 26/03/2021

Mota-Engil sinks deeper in Tororo-Kamdini ordeal

Many obstacles remain before the Portuguese company can resume construction on the Tororo-Kamdini highway, which has been at a standstill for the past year and a half as problems with the Oruja quarry persist. [...]

SENEGAL Infrastructures Business 23/03/2021

State, Meridiam negotiate busway concession contract

As good progress is being made building the lanes for Dakar's bus rapid transit system, the Senegalese government is trying to make up for the delays in the operational side of the project, which is set to be entrusted to a French consortium including Meridiam. [...]

DRC Energy Business 22/03/2021

Tshisekedi strives for unity among his advisors over Grand Inga

Félix Tshisekedi wants key players in the Grand Inga project to work in sync, while his special infrastructure advisor rushes ahead with Australian firm Fortescue to develop the mega-dams. [...]

DRC Energy Business 11/03/2021

Fortescue in Kinshasa to negotiate Grand Inga mega-contract

Executives from the Australian mining giant Fortescue have flown into the Congolese capital to discuss the modalities of a deal to generate a total 70 gigawatts of electricity in the country. Their trip comes as President Félix Tshisekedi prepares to choose between the various bidders for the Grand Inga project. [...]

CHINA DRC Diplomacy 05/03/2021

Beijing beckons to Tshisekedi

Xi Jinping's regime has invited the Congolese head of state to visit Beijing later this spring to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries. The invitation comes as Washington, which has made a dramatic return to the DRC since the election of Felix Tshisekedi, is closely scrutinizing Chinese activity in the country. [...]

Focus

DRC Politics Business 01/03/2021

Tshisekedi's investment adviser Jean-Claude Kabongo does business on both sides of the Congo River

As well as being the DRC's ambassador to the business world, Felix Tshisekedi's influential special adviser is careful to take care of his own oil product trading interests. In this area, he relies on the close links he has forged with members of the Sassou Nguesso family. [...]

DRC Mining 01/03/2021

Katumbi ally Prince Kihangi resumes hostilities against Alphamin over Nord Kivu tin mining

North Kivu activist Prince Kihangi, who recently became an MP, has been battling for years with tin mining company Alphamin. In January, however, he took his grievances to the DRC mines minister just as Moïse Katumbi, whom he supports, is forging closer relations with President Félix Tshisekedi. [...]

DRC Politics 26/02/2021

Sama Lukonde envisages a 50-strong government

The Congolese prime minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge, who has just embarked on consultations to form his new administration, is envisaging several possibilities. [...]

Spotlight

DRC SOUTHERN AFRICA Mining 26/02/2021

Copperbelt mineral exports dry up after hike in cross-border tolls

Several haulage companies have stopped exporting minerals mined in the DRC and are restricting themselves to transport operations within the country, claiming that tolls imposed when crossing into Zambia are prohibitively high. [...]

SENEGAL Diplomacy 26/02/2021

Macky Sall launches all-out diplomatic offensive as he prepares to take over as Africa Union chair

With just a year to go before he becomes chairperson of the African Union, Senegalese head of state Macky Sall has started to give the first indications of his plans for the continent. [...]

Senegal's President Macky Sall. © Ludovic Marin/POOL/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

DRC Mining 25/02/2021

Blueprint of SPIC's plans for aluminium plant in Kongo Central

State Power Investment Corp plans source the bauxite it will need for the colossal aluminum plant it is trying to build in Kongo Central from its Coliah mine in Guinea. [...]

KENYA Business 22/02/2021

Tavaziva Madzinga gets off to a tricky start at the head of Britam

Executives at Kenyan insurance giant Britam were so put out by Zimbabwean national Tavaziva Madzinga being parachuted in to head the company that they forced the previous incumbent, Benson Wairegi, to postpone his retirement so as to ensure a smooth transition. [...]

DRC Energy Business 18/02/2021

Tony Blair Institute set to provide consultancy services to Tshisekedi

Tony Blair's foundation is taking a close interest in the DRC and its Grand Inga hydroelectric project in particular. One of its directors, the Frenchman Antoine Huss, recently paid a visit to Kinshasa. [...]

DRC Energy Mining Business 21/09/2020

Gigawatts and metal ores: what Fortescue pitched to Tshisekedi

On a visit to Kinshasa on 16 September, the Australian metals giant Fortescue put forward an ambitious plan to develop electrical power and mining projects. [...]

DRC Energy Politics 26/08/2020

Kinshasa tries to persuade French companies to get on board Inga III

The Congolese authorities, who are concerned that South Africa might renege on its commitment to take a share of the future giant dam's electricity output, are looking for potential "offtakers" in France to enable it to proceed with the project. [...]

The giant Inga III dam project. © AEE power

DRC Infrastructures Business 20/08/2020

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DRC
Adebayo Ogunlesi
African Union
Agence pour le développement et la promotion du projet Grand Inga
Agenda 2063
Alexis Kohler
Alexy Kayembe de Bampende
Andritz Hydro
Angela Merkel
Bronte Moules
Bruno Kapandji Kalala
Covid-19
Dereck Armstrong
Ecole nationale d'administration
EDF
Evelyne Stirn
Félix Tshisekedi
Fortescue Metals Group
Gernot Wagner
Global Infrastructure Partners
International Finance Corporation
Jean-Claude Kabongo
Jean-Claude Kabongo on the move
Jin-Yong Cai
Joseph Kabila
Liedekerke
Nicolas Kazadi
OL Consult
Olivier Tshilumba Chekinah
Postal Savings Bank of China
Siemens
State Power Investment Corp
The Inga Unified Consortium
Wang Yi
World Bank group
Xi Jinping

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Receive free prompts for these topics

Despite Tony Blair's insistence, GIP finally says no to the Grand Inga project

Fortescue in Kinshasa to stake its claim to Grand Inga as rivals circle

Doha and Kinshasa finally consolidate ties

Global Sovereign Advisory acts as sherpa for Tshisekedi in Washington

World Bank's IFC backs Freetown's quest for mining transparency

The IFC comes to the rescue of the Maluku Special Economic Zone

CapitalKeys' ploy to make Kinshasa pay

Kinshasa struggling to make the Jeux de la Francophonie deadline

COP26: Between Grand Inga and DRC forestry capital, Félix Tshisekedi attempts grand slam in Glasgow

Transport company SCTP, a social ticking time bomb

Kenya Power's finances raise alarm bells among lenders

Miga to the rescue of North Kivu's solar plans

Dar es-Salaam rail freight project still waiting for rolling stock

Cape Verde gets World Bank help to privatise its electricity company

China's Three Gorges definitively ousted from Grand Inga

Tony Blair expresses private reservations over Fortescue's monopoly on Grand Inga

Fortescue hopes to score double on hydrogen

The temporal power of Tshisekedi's pastors

AfDB wants Inga III mega-dam project put out to tender

Tshisekedi ready for digital revolution if it pleases major financial backers

How Orrick's former star Africa lawyer dodged sexual abuse allegations and rebuilt his practice

Blair Institute delivers economic policy plan for Tshisekedi's new government

Games budget soars as head honcho awards village contract without tender

Huafei Energy Investment keen to get cracking on Kalumba and Kibombo power plants

Transparency may shed harsh light on Burkina Faso's politicians

IFC finances Ruggieri family's African hotels

New cabinet make-up suggests new trajectory for Grand Inga

Former minister Dalia Khorshid takes root in Mauritius with new consultancy business

Mota-Engil sinks deeper in Tororo-Kamdini ordeal

State, Meridiam negotiate busway concession contract

Tshisekedi strives for unity among his advisors over Grand Inga

Fortescue in Kinshasa to negotiate Grand Inga mega-contract

Beijing beckons to Tshisekedi

Tshisekedi's investment adviser Jean-Claude Kabongo does business on both sides of the Congo River

Katumbi ally Prince Kihangi resumes hostilities against Alphamin over Nord Kivu tin mining

Sama Lukonde envisages a 50-strong government

Copperbelt mineral exports dry up after hike in cross-border tolls

Macky Sall launches all-out diplomatic offensive as he prepares to take over as Africa Union chair

Blueprint of SPIC's plans for aluminium plant in Kongo Central

Tavaziva Madzinga gets off to a tricky start at the head of Britam

Tony Blair Institute set to provide consultancy services to Tshisekedi

Gigawatts and metal ores: what Fortescue pitched to Tshisekedi

Kinshasa tries to persuade French companies to get on board Inga III

German businessman Gernot Wagner hopes Inga III will lead to hydrogen plant, but Kinshasa unconvinced

Chinese firms omnipresent in new Inga III consortium

Fund manager Global Infrastructure Partners wants in on Grand Inga dam project

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