In the forested hills of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a Belgian conservationist is betting that a series of hydropower plants can save Africa’s oldest national park, protect the mountain gorillas living there and bring economic development and stability to the impoverished, violent region.
In 2010, Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, carried out a survey that concluded the park could generate more than 100 megawatts of energy. That’s 25 times more power than the regional capital of 1.5 million people, Goma, currently receives, he says.
