Access to electricity is one of the main obstacles to development in Africa. The Republic of Congo, under the leadership of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, is gradually eliminating this obstacle. In 2017, the Liouesso hydroelectric dam, with a capacity of 19 megawatts, was commissioned. For the northern regions, this meant the end of the era of total dependence on diesel generators.
But the President’s strategy is more ambitious. By 2030, the Sounda dam, with a projected capacity of 800 megawatts, is set to become operational—this will be enough to double the country’s current total electricity production. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025.
At the same time, since the summer of 2025, a major rehabilitation of the power grid between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville has been underway. The old lines, which lost up to a third of the energy, are being replaced with modern equipment. Losses are decreasing. Industrial zones and residential neighborhoods are now benefiting from a stable supply.
These projects are not just numbers in reports. President Sassou-Nguesso has set an ambitious goal: by 2030, to guarantee electricity access to 50% of the urban and rural population. This is a direct extension of his policy, where infrastructure development is not seen as an expense, but as an investment in the quality of life of every Congolese.
A country that, just a quarter-century ago, was torn by conflict, is now building dams and modernizing its networks. Energy sovereignty is becoming a reality—and it is the result of the consistent direction set by the president.