DRC’s 20 MW Mbombo Hydropower Project Moves Closer to Construction
DRC’s 20.08 MW Mbombo Hydropower Project Advances as Financing Nears Close
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s 20.08 MW Mbombo hydropower project has moved closer to construction following the signing of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with India’s Angelique International Limited.
The project, located near Kananga in Kasaï-Central Province, is being developed by the National Agency for Electrification and Energy Services in Rural and Peri-Urban Areas (ANSER). The plant will comprise four generating units of approximately 5.02 MW each.
The EPC agreement, announced on August 4, represents another step toward implementation, but the project has not yet reached financial close.
The Congolese government is expected to provide 30% of the financing, while a commercial bank is being lined up to cover the remaining 70%.
ANSER and the Industry Promotion Fund (FPI) established Hydro Mbombo SAS on July 17 to serve as the project company responsible for developing and operating the plant.
The FPI has committed to providing 30% of the project financing, addressing a key requirement previously identified by ANSER for attracting private financing. Negotiations with a commercial bank for the remaining 70% are still being finalised.
The latest EPC agreement therefore marks progress in the project’s financing and contractual structure, but construction will depend on the completion of the bank financing and the effective mobilisation of funds.
Once construction begins, ANSER expects the first households to receive electricity within approximately 18 months.
The Mbombo project is intended to strengthen electricity supply in and around Kananga, where access to reliable power remains limited.
Beyond the generating plant, the broader development includes infrastructure required to evacuate and distribute the electricity to consumers.
Angelique International has previous experience in the DRC’s hydropower sector, having participated in the construction of the Kakobola hydropower plant in Kwilu Province.
The role of the ACCC-Polychangda consortium, which had previously been identified by ANSER as a participant in the Mbombo project, remains unclear.
The agency has not yet publicly confirmed whether the new EPC contract replaces earlier arrangements or whether the consortium will retain a role.
With the EPC contract now in place, the next major milestones are financial close, finalisation of the construction schedule and the effective start of works.
