SA, DRC sign Grand Inga project treaty again

Grand Inga uses the Congo River to generate huge amounts of electricity. Image: Wiki Images

The Grand Inga project is expected to be the world's biggest hydroelectric project, with the potential to power half the continent.

President Jacob Zuma made the announcement while addressing the Parliament of the DRC. He said that the treaty was a major step towards the realisation of the long cherished dream for the people of the DRC.

"It is with great pleasure that an important treaty on the Grand Inga Hydropower Project has been signed. This long talked about project has got the potential to change the economic prospects of the DRC, the region and the continent.

"I must convey how particularly pleased and excited I am by the progress taking place towards the realisation of the Grand Inga Hydropower Project.

"This incredible feat of human ingenuity, when completed, will have the capacity to power Africa and indeed to export electricity beyond the continent," he said.

The government of the DRC is seeking to harness the power potential of the Congo River by building Grand Inga, the biggest hydroelectric project ever built that would use sub-Saharan Africa's greatest river to generate electricity.

"South Africa is extremely proud to be working so closely with the DRC in realising this project. This represents one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken on the African continent, and one which will long be a resounding symbol of the rise of Africa and her people," Zuma said.

SA ready to share experience with DRC

M23 rebels continue to disrupt the eastern DRC. Image: Wiki Images

Zuma said South Africa looks forward to extending and deepening the close relations between the two countries. "We can do this across the many areas of shared interest in pursuit of a better future for all," he said. "In the spirit of ubuntu, which is a core principle underpinning the work of the South African government, we will continue to stand side by side with the DRC," he added.

Zuma said South Africa will forever be grateful for the solidarity it received from the Congolese people during the liberation struggle, adding that it has always been South Africa's belief that in order to overcome poverty and to achieve prosperity through development, it was imperative that the essential preconditions of peace, security, and stability must be in place.

He said South Africa remained deeply concerned by the enduring conflict in eastern DRC, perpetrated by local and externally supported armed groups on innocent Congolese civilians.

"We deplore the devastating loss of life, the human suffering, the displacement of more than a million civilians and the damage to property which is the result of this intolerable situation," he said.

He said that the conflict in the DRC should be resolved through negotiated, political solutions.

Tripartite mechanism meets

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. Image: GCIS

Meanwhile, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane joined other senior officials at the first session of the ministerial meeting of the Angola-DRC-South Africa tripartite mechanism on dialogue and co-operation.

Nkoana-Mashabane said she was pleased with the outcome of the meeting, given that critical decisions were made with regard to the implementation of the tripartite mechanism.

"We have rededicated ourselves to make this mechanism a success, consistent with the directives of our heads of state. We have committed ourselves to speed up the ratification process of the memorandum of understanding on the tripartite mechanism," she said.

The tripartite co-operation mechanism is a body designed to help consolidate peace in the Great Lakes region, and safeguard the conditions favourable to the implementation of the framework accord for peace, stability and co-operation in the DRC.