The Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) aims to start the construction of the Inga-3 hydropower plant in 2015. The 40,000 MW project would be the largest hydropower plant of the world, if built. Three consortia have applied for its development, namely Sinohydro-China Three Gorge Corp. (China), ACS-Eurofinsa-AEE (Spain) and Daexoo-Posco-SNC Lavalin (South Korea-Canada).
The first phase of the project would consist of a 4,800 MW power complex, Inga-3 Lower. In February 2012, BHP Billiton, which was the main investor in the project, cancelled its aluminium refinery plan and withdrew from Inga-3; the project was revived later in 2012, when South Africa announced that it was interested in buying 2,500 MW of the planned 4,800 MW power plant, and a treaty draft was signed in March 2013.
The costs would range between US$8.5bn and US$12bn (including inflation and financial costs).
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