DRC Launches HYDRO-RDC Platform to Map 167GW Hydropower Potential
DRC Maps 3,349 Hydropower Sites With 167GW Potential to Attract New Investment
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched the HYDRO-RDC platform, providing investors and developers with access to a national database of 3,349 potential hydropower sites with an estimated combined capacity of 167.25 GW.
The platform was introduced by Minister of Water Resources and Electricity Aimé Sakombi Molendo alongside a new national hydropower site map designed to improve planning and guide investment in the electricity sector.
Of the 3,349 sites identified, 251 already have hydropower infrastructure, either currently operating or temporarily out of service.
The government said the database would provide technical and geographic information on sites identified across the country.
Under the new framework, concessions and licences for hydropower projects will be required to align with the official national mapping and the country’s electricity development plans, including the National Electrification Master Plan and the Rural and Peri-Urban Electrification Master Plan.
HYDRO-RDC is intended to give investors and project developers a central source of information for identifying sites with technical and economic potential.
The platform is also expected to improve coordination between government institutions involved in hydropower development.
The initiative comes as the DRC seeks to expand electricity generation and improve access to power.
The country has significant untapped hydropower resources, while unreliable electricity supply remains a constraint on industrial and economic development.
The government said the mapping would not be static. The database will be updated as new potential sites are identified and additional technical information becomes available.
Existing concession holders will also be required to provide relevant data to support the continued development and updating of the national hydropower database.
The launch of HYDRO-RDC provides a more structured framework for developing the DRC’s hydropower resources and could help direct private investment towards projects capable of adding new generation capacity to the national grid and supporting wider electrification.
