DR Congo, S. Africa to work on mega-hydroelectric project

The Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa on Saturday opened the way to develop a mega- hydroelectric plant on the Congo river to address their nations' growing energy needs. Congolese President Joseph Kabila and his visiting South African counterpart Jacob Zuma were present at the signing by their energy ministers of an accord to launch the project in Lubumbashi, in Katanga province in southeast DR Congo. The accord will allow for negotiations to begin to draft a treaty between the two countries within six months. The so-called Grand Inga hydroelectricity complex, which would have a capacity of some 40,000 megawatts, is aimed "at contributing to the problem of the deficit in electrical energy which their countries are confronting as well as other countries in the region," the two African nations said in their joint statement.