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China Dominates Bid for Africa’s Largest Dam in New Pact

  • Chinese, Spanish developers agree to form a single consortium
  • Inga III hydroelectric plant would generate 11,050 megawatts
The Inga 1 (rear) and Inga 2 (front) power plants on the Congo river.

The Inga 1 (rear) and Inga 2 (front) power plants on the Congo river.

Photographer: Marc Jourdier/AFP via Getty Images

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Chinese and Spanish developers that want to build Africa’s biggest hydropower plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo agreed to form a single consortium in an accord the country says is a key step to realizing the plan.

The $14 billion dam is part of a long-delayed project known as Grand Inga that’s eventually intended to harness as much as 40,000 megawatts of power from the Congo River. Inga III would generate 11,050 megawatts, meant primarily for South Africa, other African markets and Congo’s copper and cobalt miners.