The announcement is the latest in a string of events in Sub Saharan Africa which have impacted the hydro electric market. While Congo is getting help reopening and upgrading some of its ageing infrastructure damaged by years of civil war and neglect, other countries such as Uganda are starting projects of their own. This is in addition to Sierra Leone where funds have arrived to complete a massive dam which has been under construction for the better part of 20 years.
Chinese companies which have already helped countries such as Myanmar in South East Asia to gain funding for large scale hydro projects, must surely also be looking at the continent in light of their recent infrastructure investments and thinking that the time may soon come for them to move ahead with projects. Part of the reason that projects have been neglected for so long is that organizations such as the World Bank and IMF or United Nations outfits have been willing to give credits without demanding a great deal of demands in return with regards to governance.
