Building The Future: High-Impact Projects That Can Re-Shape Africa

 The Grand Inga Hydropower Project, Congo (DRC)

The Grand Inga Hydropower Project, Congo (DRC) could potentially power 40% of Africa. The dam will be built on the Congo River at Inga Falls. When completed, it will be the biggest of its kind producing annually 40,000MW of energy, a figure that is double that of China’s ‘Three Gorges Dam,’ currently the world’s largest. But with the whole project estimated to cost US$80-100bn, fundraising will be a real challenge; commencement of the project has however, had several false starts. Developers optimistically expected to finish the grandiose project by 2025.

Konza Tech City, Kenya

Konza Tech City, Kenya, a US$14.5bn software hub outside Nairobi – dubbed the “African Silicon Savannah.” Konza will be a sustainable, world-class technology hub and major economic driver for Kenya. It will be built over 5,000 acres of land, 64 km south of Nairobi, with a business district, a university, residential areas and city parks.

Tanzania’s Bagamoyo

Tanzania’s Bagamoyo Port will become sub-Saharan Africa’s largest port, capable of handling 20 million containers per year. With an estimated cost of US$11bn, the state-owned construction firm, China Merchants Group expects to complete the port by 2045. An integral part of the Bagamoyo project will be an Export Development Zone alongside the construction of an industrial city, as well as upgrades to Tanzania’s road/railway infrastructure.

The Mombasa-Kigali Rail-Link

The Mombasa-Kigali Rail-Link development, stretching almost 3,000km and connecting three East African neighbours (Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda), could be the continent’s answer to the Orient Express. The US$13bn project (upon completion) will help to alleviate traffic on roads ill equipped to cope with growing transportation demands. Starting in Kenya, Mombasa, with a stop-off at the Ugandan capital, Kampala, before heading for its final destination of Kigali, Rwanda. It will also generate intra-regional trade.

The Abidjan-Lagos Motorway

The Abidjan-Lagos Motorway (in planning phase) will connect five West African countries (from west to east Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria). The total cost of the motorway is US$8bn.

 What other high-impact Projects do you know of that will/can re-shape Africa?