Addressing renewable energy conundrum in the DR Congo: Focus on Grand Inga hydropower dam project

As the DR Congo has experienced a severe energy crisis, the paper analyzes its energy policy. It examines the Grand Inga hydropower project, including the Inga 3 dam. The Inga 3 dam's development is confronted with political, geostrategic, and financial challenges, notably the suspension of the World Bank's funding in 2016. Due to the electro-mobility's development, the downstream companies intend to secure cobalt from the country. Mining companies of the copper-cobalt belt might fail to respond to the downstream companies' needs, given the lack of a reliable and affordable energy supply. Policy recommendations suggest that further transparency in implementing the Grand Inga project is required for restoring donors' confidence; while the country strives for political stability and sustainable development.