The Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than $ 25 billion in active projects, dominated by the energy sector. Hydroelectric and solar energy projects are the key areas of investment and can have a positive impact on much-needed economic development.

With one of the fastest growth rates (34%), the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will increase to 120 million by 2030. ABiQ places the DRC at 48th position in Africa when analyzing overall market risk . The ABiQ 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 Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the richest countries in Africa when it comes to natural resources, it arguably has one of the weakest infrastructures in Africa. That said, with an abundance of water, it has probably the most significant hydroelectric potential in Africa. Assume that the leadership of the Democratic Republic of the Congo can secure investment and develop its hydropower potential to the extent that it becomes a regional energy exporter. In that case, it could completely change the dynamics of the country's economic trajectory.

Currently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has approximately $ 25 billion active projects in Africa, of which $ 5 billion are under construction. Active projects are dominated by the energy sector, which accounts for two-thirds of active projects by value. The real estate sector is in second place, with 16 percent of the active project market in value.

The top 5 projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are:

Kinshasa solar city photovoltaics

Developed near Kinshasha by The Sandi Group, the 1 gigawatt solar project will consist of two phases. Phase I will have a capacity of 600 megawatts and phase II 400 megawatts. Sunplus is the main contractor in phase I, and Societe Nationale d'Electricite is the buyer.

Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project

The mine has an estimated remaining useful life of 26 years. Developed by Kamoa Copper, which is majority owned by Canada's Ivanhoe Mines, it is considered one of the largest high-grade copper mines in the world. Construction work is virtually completed (96 percent), ahead of schedule.

Puerto Banano

Dubai-based DP World has secured a thirty-year concession to develop and operate Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Phase I of the work includes a dock and a 600-meter yard that can handle 350 thousand TEUs and 1.5 million tons of general cargo.

Busanga Dam and Hydropower

Located in Katanga province, the purpose-built hydroelectric dam will have a generating capacity of 240 megawatts and will feed the nearby Sicomines project. The developer is the Sinohydro and China Railway joint venture, and the main contractor is Power Construction Corporation of China.

Kasomeno Mwenda Toll Road – Democratic Republic of the Congo Section

The new single carriageway connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo with Zambia is 182 kilometers long. Developed by the DRC Ministry of Transport and Communications, the DRC section extends 96 kilometers to the border with Zambia. It is jointly financed by Groupe Europeen de Development Africa, Development Bank of Southern Africa and Fonci Invest Groupe.

Source: ABIConsulting