DRC Begins Talks on Studies for 6,450-MW Pioka-Tombe Hydropower Project

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched talks to update studies for the 6,450-megawatt Pioka-Tombe hydroelectric project, a cross-border development on the Congo River.

Mines and Electricity Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo met with officials from Italian engineering firm Electroconsult in Milan to review technical and economic data for the project. Electroconsult originally conducted the site’s first studies in 1978.

The discussions focus on refreshing existing data to support the next phases, including topographic surveys, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and preliminary designs. Sakombi Molendo also emphasised establishing a solid institutional and financial framework to mobilise investment.

The Pioka-Tombe site falls under a bilateral agreement between the DRC and the Republic of Congo. On February 26, 2026, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the hydroelectric development of the site.

Once completed, the project is expected to ease Kinshasa’s electricity deficit, estimated at over 1,000 MW, and support industrial growth in Kongo Central and areas connected to the Inga grid.

The initiative is part of DRC’s broader strategy to strengthen energy infrastructure and regional power cooperation, positioning hydropower as a key driver of sustainable economic development.