Top 5 Projects in the DRC
The DRC has more than $25 billion of active projects, dominated by the energy sector. Hydropower and solar projects are the key investment areas and can positively impact much needed economic development.
With one of the fastest growth rates at 34 per cent, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) population will increase to 120 million by 2030. ABiQ ranks the DRC at position 48 in Africa when looking at overall market risk. ABiQ’s market risk indicator is a proprietary algorithm that includes health security index, health index, corruption perception, country risk, credit rating and peace index.
Although the DRC is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa when it comes to natural resources, it has arguably one of the weakest infrastructures in Africa. That said, with an abundance of water, it has probably the most significant hydropower potential in Africa. Suppose the DRC leadership can secure investment and develop its hydropower potential to the extent that it becomes a regional power exporter. In that case, it could completely change the dynamics of the country’s economic trajectory.
At present, the DRC has roughly $25 billion of active Africa projects of which, $5 billion is under construction. Active projects are dominated by the energy sector, accounting for two-thirds of the active projects by value. The real estate sector is in second place, with 16 per cent of the active projects market by value.
ABiQ’s top 5 projects in the DRC are:
Kinshasa Solar City PV
Developed near Kinshasha by The Sandi Group, the 1-gigawatt solar project will be consist of two phases. Phase I will have a 600-megawatt capacity and phase II 400-megawatts. Sunplus is the primary contractor on phase I, and Societe Nationale d’Electricite is the off-taker.
Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project
The mine has an estimated remaining production life of 26 years. Developed by Kamoa Copper, which is majority-owned by Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines, it is considered one of the world’s largest high-grade copper mines. Construction work is essentially complete (96 per cent), ahead of schedule.
Banana Port
Dubai based DP World secured a thirty-year concession to develop and operate the Banana port in the DRC. Phase I of the construction work includes a 600-metre quay and yard that can handle 350 thousand TEU’s and 1.5 million tonnes of general cargo.
Busanga Hydropower and Dam
Located in the Katanga province, the purpose-built hydropower dam will have a 240-megawatt generating capacity and power the nearby Sicomines project. The developer is the Sinohydro and China Railway joint venture, and the main contractor is the Power Construction Corporation of China.
Kasomeno Mwenda Toll Road – DRC Section
The new single carriageway connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Zambia is 182-kilometres long. Developed by the DRC Ministry of Transport and Communication, the DRC section stretches 96-kilometres to the Zambian border. It is financed jointly by Groupe Europeen de Development Africa, Development Bank of Southern Africa and Fonci Invest Groupe.
For more information on these projects or to request a free online demonstration and see how we can help, please contact us here.