Inga 3

Inga 3 (3,500 MW) would be a tunnel diversion hydropower scheme, which would draw water from the existing reservoir used by Inga 1 and Inga 2. Inga 3’s design is based on a total of 8 parallel tunnels, 6,770 meters long, 13.3 meters in diameter each. Each tunnel would support 2 turbines, of 270 MW each. Total project cost of Inga 3 including the Western Corridor transmission line from Inga to South Africa via Angola and Namibia is up to $8 billion. Geological studies have not been conducted yet and project costs will likely rise after studies are completed. A project pre-feasibility study was completed in early 2008 by SNC-Lavalin and handed over to the Government of DRC.

SNEL has signed two agreements regarding the development of Inga 3, first with Westcor, a five-utility consortium led by South Africa's Eskom. SNEL signed a second agreement with mining giant, BHP Billiton. According to Westcor, they have the right as an independent power producer (IPP) to develop Inga 3. Inga 3 has been named a presidential priority project by South Africa and DRC, although it may now never reach South African markets. Electricity will be sold in a priority order to the utilties of DRC, Angola, Nambia, and Botswana, before South Africa. There is no maximum limit to how much electricity each utitility may purchase. 

Under its agreement with SNEL, BHP Billiton intends to build an aluminum smelter in Bas Congo Province which could consume up to 2,000 MW of electricity from Inga 3. Westcor  would sell Inga 3's power to SNEL and other member utilties, and SNEL would in turn sell power to BHP Billiton.

NGOs in Bas Congo are raising concerns that the Government wants to attract more energy intensive industries to the province as anchor clients for Inga 3 and Grand Inga, but such industrial development may bring little benefit to local communities. In particular, concerns have been raised that land giveaways to foreign industries will result in forced displacement.