Congo-DRC-Angola Power Line Set for 2025 Launch
The European Union (EU) will commission a 1,400 kV power transmission project in 2025, linking the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Angola.
Known as the Boucle de l’Amitié Énergétique, this initiative aims to address chronic electricity shortages, enhance regional energy security, and support economic development.
Electricity access in the Republic of Congo remains limited, with only 68% of urban areas and 12% of rural areas connected to the grid.
The country’s primary power source, the Centrale Électrique du Congo in Pointe-Noire, is currently facing reduced capacity due to maintenance issues, leading to frequent outages.
At present, the only high-voltage connection between Congo and the DRC is a 220 kV, 60 km transmission line. The new project will create a loop linking Inga, Moanda, Boma, Cabinda, Pointe-Noire, Brazzaville, and Kinshasa, significantly strengthening interconnections between the three nations.
Angola formally joined the project in March 2023, expanding its reach. Meanwhile, Congo and the DRC had already signed a cooperation agreement in December 2021 to implement the Boucle de l’Amitié Énergétique.
The project’s first phase will enhance power transmission between Pointe-Noire’s Centrale Électrique and the Inga Hydroelectric Plant in the DRC, via Brazzaville. The initiative aims to:
- Increase electricity production
- Improve grid stability
- Strengthen economic and political ties
By ensuring reliable power, the project is expected to stimulate industrial growth and drive economic development across the three nations.
The Central African Power Pool is actively promoting electricity interconnections among member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to establish a regional power market.
Other key projects include:
- Soyo Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant (750 MW): Integrating its output into the Inga-Cabinda-Pointe-Noire transmission system to boost power supply.
- 346 km High-Voltage Transmission Line: Connecting southeastern Gabon and central Congo, improving regional power distribution.
- Central African Pipeline System (6,500 km): A proposed energy corridor linking 11 Central African nations to facilitate the transport and trade of oil and gas resources.
By reinforcing power interconnectivity and hydrocarbon trade, these projects will bolster energy security and foster economic integration across Central Africa.
