Congo energy could provide electricity for Africa
Africa’s Congo River could generate electricity for thousands of people if plans proposed by one of the continent’s biggest electricity generating companies are put into effect.
The chairman of South Africa-based power company Eskom Holdings, Reuel Khoza, announced the plans during the United Nations Environment Programme’s 23rd Governing Council Ministerial Environment Forum.
Khoza said the river offered opportunities to reduce poverty and deliver sustainable development. The company calculated that the hydro electricity could generate more than 40,000MW, which would be enough to power Africa’s industrialisation and allow excess to be sold to Europe.
Engineers would siphon off the river for diversion through turbines before funneling the water back into the Congo. According to Khoza, the scheme would qualify for funding under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol.
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