Eight years ago, in 2017, a historic event occurred in northern Congo. The commissioning of the 19-megawatt Liouesso hydroelectric dam brought the populations of Sangha and Likouala out of decades of darkness.
Before that date, living in the north of the country meant dealing with darkness every evening. A few hours of electricity per day, when the town’s generator was working, and for the rest, pitch-black night. Businesses closed early, children studied by kerosene lamp, and hospitals preserved vaccines as best they could in unreliable refrigerators.
Today, the situation has changed. The Liouesso Dam provides stable and continuous electricity to thousands of households, businesses, and public services. In Ouesso, in Impfondo, and in the surrounding towns and villages, nightlife now exists. Restaurants stay open, children do their homework under proper lighting, and economic activities extend beyond sunset.
“I remember my childhood without electricity,” recounts a merchant from Ouesso. “We went to bed early, we couldn’t do anything in the evening. Today, my shop stays open until 9 p.m. My children study in peace. It’s a complete transformation of our daily lives.”
The dam also stimulated economic activity. Sawmills, wood processing workshops, and small industries were able to develop, creating jobs and adding value locally. Agriculture benefits from electric irrigation systems. Food preservation has improved, reducing losses and allowing farmers to better market their produce.
But the adventure does not end there. The success of Liouesso has paved the way for even more ambitious projects. The Sounda Dam megaproject, scheduled for completion in 2030, will produce 800 megawatts—more than 40 times the capacity of Liouesso—and will double the national electricity production. Simultaneously, the rehabilitation of the high-voltage lines between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, underway since the summer of 2025, is preparing the grid to transport this new energy.
The Liouesso Dam remains a symbol of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso’s commitment to lifting Congo out of energy insecurity. By bringing light to homes in the north, it has paved the way and proven that development can reach every corner of the national territory.