In what energy experts are describing as a transformative moment for Central African infrastructure, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo have formally inaugurated the construction of a high-voltage electricity transmission line that will become the largest power interconnection project on the African continent. The announcement, made in simultaneous ceremonies in Luanda and Kinshasa, marks a significant step toward regional energy integration and could eventually allow the two neighbours to share surplus power, stabilise grid frequencies, and reduce their dependence on expensive thermal generation during dry seasons.
The project will lay approximately 2,300 kilometres of 400-kilovolt transmission line connecting Angolas rich hydroelectric assets — anchored by the massive 2-gigawatt Laúca Dam in Kwanza Norte province — to population centres in eastern DR Congo that have long suffered from chronic electricity shortages. The line will pass through some of the most remote and logistically challenging terrain in sub-Saharan Africa, including sections of the Congo Basin rainforest and the mineral-rich Katanga plateau.
For Angola, the interconnection represents a strategic opportunity to monetise electricity exports from its expanding fleet of hydroelectric plants. Laúca, which became fully operational in 2017, has at times generated more power than the national grid can absorb, leading to curtailments that waste clean energy. By contrast, large swathes of DR Congo — a country that possesses perhaps the greatest hydroelectric potential on earth — remain underserviced, with the eastern provinces reliant on expensive diesel generators.
The financial architecture of the project draws on a blend of African Development Bank credit, sovereign lending from Chinese policy banks, and direct budget contributions from both governments. African Development Bank officials said the project was proof that African nations can pool resources and capabilities to build infrastructure that none could afford alone.
Challenges remain considerable. Security concerns in parts of eastern DR Congo, where armed groups continue to operate near mining towns and transport corridors, pose a threat to construction crews. Technical standards also differ between the two national grids. Nonetheless, officials in both countries have expressed confidence that the first phase of the interconnection will be operational within 30 months, with full capacity reached by the end of the decade.