Congo Can Power and Feed the Whole of Africa!
Unknown to many, the world's most volatile location, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be the answer to many of Africa's problems. The vast unrealized potential of this region is mind boggling. While the rest of the world mulls over the challenges of renewable energy, a gargantuan resource lies unused in the heart of Africa.
For the last few years, plans have been on the table to develop the world's largest hydroelectric power dam - one that upstages the still incomplete Three Gorges Dam in China. Called the Grand Inga, this dam would produce enough electricity to power the whole of Africa! With a potential of 39,000MW output, the 500 million residents of the continent would be ushered into the industrial and digital age with electricity to spare. Many challenges lie ahead for the project. Building this great dam across the entire Congo River has a price tag of +$50 Billion which might be one of the lesser problems, considering the nature of the region itself, and the rampant corruption that has plagued Africa in general for the last few decades.
That said, the Congo has the agricultural potential to feed the whole of Africa too. Its climate favors the cultivation of a very wide range of crops. More than half of the Congo's land is arable land, but only about 2% of this has been cultivated! Agricultural yield is extremely high in the region - high enough to supply the whole of Africa with all the necessary food crops (Rice, corn, millet, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar cane… the list goes on and on). War and a decaying infrastructure may keep all this unexploited sadly.
Africa is a paradox unto itself, an enigma without an solution. For now we can only hypothesize about what 'could be' and 'might be'.
Damn right dear sir, as a Congolese I cry when I see the potential of my country. And to think that we can’t do anything to exploit saddens me even more. Africa’s indeed a paradox in itself. Great post.
The potential for relatively clean energy to power all Africa is staggering. However, it ain’t gonna happen…at least not in my lifetime (g-d willing, another 40+ years).
Africans or, in this case, the Congolese themselves must be able to visualize/realize their own potential to create a politically stable, corruption-free, economically sound nation. If you and others believe that can happen then let the Congolese, Pan-African, Chinese, Americans, French and perhaps the British build the Grand Inga and provide the railways, roads, power grids, schools, hospitals, security, etcetera needed to complete such a project.