Moanda long lease

The long lease Moanda is an industrial project, economic and political aiming to the development of the province of the Low-Congo in Democratic republic of Congo and more generally of the whole of the basin of the river and the neighbouring areas. Regularly evoked in a form or another for 70 years, it has been currently carried by Charles Vanacker, pol. Mouzon and Guido Hendrickx, having worked of many years in DRC.

It is a question of benefitting from the resources of the river Congo (energy and like means of communication) in the area from Moanda and its back country, and of developing the area to make of it communications tools with the high part of the river, the second catchment area of the world with a surface of: 3800000 km ², for a medium flow of: 42000 m ² /s (: 37500 m ² /s on the level of Inga). With this intention and to mitigate the recurring of political instability and economic situation, a specific political regime is considered.

The industrial project

The industrial project is based on old studies, reactualized on the basis of new technique.

The channel of Congo

Large Inga

See also: Stopping Large Inga

The two stoppings of Inga I and Inga II were built on Nkokolo, an old bed of the river out of Right Bank of the current course. Water is collected there principal bed with the altitude of 125 meters, to be exploited by the two power stations with altitude 115 meters. A channel dug of this same Nkokolo, but leading downstream to the river would make it possible to obtain a larger unevenness and consequently more a great power to be exploited; it is the project Inga III.

But the natural energy remains still important. The project of Large Inga envisages the construction of a stopping upstream of the hydrant of Nkokolo, which would make it possible to generate a water reserve at an altitude of 200 meters (against 125 meters currently at the same place) in the valley Bundi, which itself would be barred a few kilometers further by a stopping on the level of its confluence with Congo (currently with 45 meters of altitude). Between the water reserve and the river, from now on 155 meters of uneven on the second most powerful river of the world. A power station built here would make it possible to produce: 39000 MW, are the double of the potential of the Barrage of the Three-Throats on the Yangzi Jiang. For an investment and ecological costs appreciably less than with the Three-Throats, Aswan or Itaipu.

The first work was undertaken in 1965, and Inga I, of a power of 351 MW, was inaugurated in 1971. Inga II in 1982, with a production capacity: 1424 MW. The Free zone of Inga was created (official journal N° 8 of April 15th, 1981). This one did not accommodate any industry however, frightened by the political risks and generalized corruption.

In fine , Grand Inga would include/understand 4 production units, for a total power of: 45275 MW distributed as follows:

Inga I (currently functioning to 20% of its capacities, 45 meters of fall): 351 MW
Inga II (currently functioning to 20% of its capacities, 50 meters of fall): : 1424 MW
Inga III (in project, 55 meters of fall): : 4500 MW
Large Inga/central of Bundi (in project, 155 meters of fall): : 39000 MW

The partisans of the project consider on the contrary that the introduction of a distinct political entity would be the only chance to see succeeding the project, so much the political risks in the area mortgage an investment of such a width.

See too

Internal bonds

Dam Inga
Inga-Shaba
Project Westcor

External bonds

moanda.org - site of the promoters of the project
International Rivers Network - article of Terry Hathaway, April 2005

References

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