Trump Has Once-in-a-Century Opportunity in Africa

OPINION

At Congo’s Inga Falls, the world’s deepest river plunges down a 315-foot drop, releasing more raw hydraulic energy than any site on Earth. Engineers have long envisioned harnessing that surge through the Grand Inga hydroelectric complex — a seven-station project that, if fully built, would dwarf China’s Three Gorges Dam and generate enough electricity to light up the African continent, where 600 million people live without power.

The $80 billion mega project has been paralyzed for over a decade by financing hurdles, governance concerns, and partner churn. In June, that stalemate cracked: The World Bank approved a new $250 million preparation package eight years after suspending its support and five months after China’s state-owned China Three Gorges Corporation walked away.