World Bank Approves $1B Credit for Inga 3 Dam
On 3 June 2025, the World Bank (WB) Board of Directors approved a USD 250 million loan, as a first tranche of the USD one billion for the project development of Inga 3 Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The fund will be disbursed from the International Development Association (IDA) — the concessional arm of the World Bank — to the Agency for the Development and Promotion of Inga Dam (ADPI) which will spearhead the project.
After Inga 1 and 2, the Inga 3 Dam will become the largest hydropower project (HPP) in DRC until the Grand Inga is implemented. The project is in line with the DRC’s National Energy Compact and the Mission 300 (#M300) initiative, to which the WB subscribes.
Today, just above 20% of the population in DRC have access to electricity. When Inga 3 becomes operational, the electricity access rate is projected to jump to 62%. Additionally, affordable and renewable energy will contribute to the upscaling of the DRC’s mining sector, where the smelting or refining process is quite energy-intensive.
“This is an opportunity to write a new page in DRC’s development story, one that harnesses the country’s rich resources to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty. By supporting DRC’s vision for Inga through this program and complementary investments in governance, education and infrastructure, the World Bank Group, together with partners, can significantly contribute to converting DRC’s natural resources into economic growth, jobs, and human development for the Congolese people.”
WB Division Director Albert Zeufack
“The electricity generation potential at the Inga site is one of the largest in the world. The development of Inga 3’s hydropower will be transformative for DRC. By increasing access to clean, renewable and affordable energy for Congolese households and industries, it will serve as a motor for inclusive growth and jobs. Laying solid technical and governance foundations, and earning community support will be essential to realize this challenge.”
ADPI Head Bob Mabiala
From the start, the Inga 3 Development Program takes into consideration the socio-economic upliftment of the approximately 1.2 million people scattered around 100 local communities near the mouth of the Congo River. As part of the #ESG framework, these communities will benefit from clean water, better roads and distributed renewable energy. Moreover, the inhabitants will receive capacity building opportunities up to tertiary level so that they can eventually take up gainful employment on the Inga #HPP should they be so inclined.
For the record, it is worth recalling that the WB withdrew funding for the Inga 3 dam project in 2016, citing ‘divergence in strategic direction’ with the Congolese government. At the time, the estimated cost of construction was around USD 14 billion. The Inga 3 Dam is part of the larger Inga Complex which also includes Inga 1, Inga 2, and the mega Grand Inga, with the latter having a capacity up to 80 GW and estimated to cost nearly USD 100 billion.
The funding will go toward supporting detailed design and project structuring, which might entail an innovative financing model given the scale of the endeavor. The estimated generation capacity of Inga 3 was initially rated at about 5 GW but newer estimates place the potential capacity as high as 11 GW. Due to its size and complexity, the construction is expected to take one whole decade.