The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Mr. Clément MOUAMBA, chaired on Saturday 04 November 2017 in the press room of the Kintélé international conference center, the opening ceremony of the workshop for the restitution of feasibility studies of the Sounda hydroelectric plant. Carried out by the international financial company, (SFI), a subsidiary of the World Bank, these studies led to fruitful discussions between experts of ministerial departments and other public and private entities involved in the execution of this project of high socioeconomic scope. Giving the geographic location and historical landmarks of this project caressed for ages, Minister Jean Jacques Bouya, did not fail to emphasize the specific nature of its feasibility studies conducted in public-private partnership.

“As can be seen through these benchmarks, it was not the intentions of the construction of this dam that were lacking. There have been many attempts, but the reality is that the dam was never built. This is an opportunity to hope that this attempt will be the right one, in order to concretize the project by delegation of public service. This is one of the reasons that led us to choose the SFI, to support us in the implementation of this project, with innovative financing methods, of the public-private partnership type" he underscored.

Thus, the construction project of the Sounda hydroelectric plant which will be built in the transitional zone of the departments of Niari and Kouilou, precisely in the Mayombe massif, 70 km from the mouth of the Kouilou, will be developed in three phases: the first phase concerns the general study of options, with a view to determining the concept of the project. The second phase determines the terms and conditions for funding and managing this project, which will undoubtedly absorb significant financial resources. The third concerns the actual implementation of the project.

The realization of this future infrastructure integrates the vision of the President of the Republic Denis Sassou N’guesso in the realization of the energy boulevard.

“While the economic vision of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Denis SASSOU N'GUESSO, is more focused on consolidating and diversifying the economic fabric, it goes without saying that the conquest of infrastructure, as driving factors, remains an essential component” added the Minister of Development, territorial equipment and public works, Jean Jacques Bouya.

The restitution workshop for the first phase of the feasibility studies for the Sounda hydroelectric power plant construction project demonstrates the interest the Congolese government places in public-private partnership. Said the Resident Representative of the World Bank in Congo, Djibrilla Issa. An initiative welcomed by this financial institution, because the creation of infrastructure constitutes an essential foundation for development. The economic development of Congo will inevitably be influenced and even conditioned by the level of development of its infrastructure.

Djibrilla Issa said, “The success of the Sounda hydroelectric dam construction project is dependent on the reform of the electricity sector in the Republic of Congo. This involves at least three things, namely securing a viable electricity purchase contract for the developer, strengthening the transmission network and reforming the national electricity company to reduce losses. technical and commercial”.

It is worth noting that this study which was submitted for debate, also presented for different cases the stakes and challenges of this emblematic project, while taking into account all its physical, environmental and socio-economic implications.