A Congolese delegation used France's leading hydropower industry gathering to develop training connections for the engineers, technicians and specialists needed to build, operate and maintain Grand Inga.
KINSHASA — October 23, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing its own technical workforce for the future of Grand Inga through a specialized mission to Grenoble, France, focused on hydropower training, industrial partnerships and practical skills development.
A delegation of 11 Congolese representatives travelled to France from October 3 to 9 under the Higher Education Support Project, known as PAES. The mission included participation in Business Hydro 2026, a major gathering of hydropower companies, technical experts, research institutions and industry decision-makers held in Grenoble on October 6 and 7.
According to the Congolese Press Agency, the initiative was implemented by Expertise France and financed by the French Development Agency. It promoted the Grand Inga vision, presented the PAES 2 Inga programme and opened discussions on cooperation to train future Congolese hydropower professionals.
Preparing Congolese Talent for Grand Inga
The mission placed national skills at the centre of the DRC's hydroelectric ambitions. Developing Grand Inga and Inga 3 will require professionals capable of contributing to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of large energy infrastructure.
PAES 2 Inga is designed to strengthen higher-education programmes connected to hydropower and create closer links among Congolese universities, technical institutes, businesses, industrial operators and research centres.
The programme seeks to anticipate future skills requirements while expanding practical training, access to teaching equipment, professional internships and applied research. This approach can help ensure that Congolese graduates are prepared for the technical employment opportunities created by the country's energy transformation.
Universities, Technical Institutes and Energy Institutions Unite
The Congolese delegation brought together institutions directly connected to energy development and professional training.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Congolese engineers head to France to prepare Grand Inga workforce
Oct 23, 2026
Oct 23, 2026
5 min read
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A Congolese delegation used France's leading hydropower industry gathering to develop training connections for the engineers, technicians and specialists needed to build, operate and maintain Grand Inga.
KINSHASA — October 23, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing its own technical workforce for the future of Grand Inga through a specialized mission to Grenoble, France, focused on hydropower training, industrial partnerships and practical skills development.
A delegation of 11 Congolese representatives travelled to France from October 3 to 9 under the Higher Education Support Project, known as PAES. The mission included participation in Business Hydro 2026, a major gathering of hydropower companies, technical experts, research institutions and industry decision-makers held in Grenoble on October 6 and 7.
According to the Congolese Press Agency, the initiative was implemented by Expertise France and financed by the French Development Agency. It promoted the Grand Inga vision, presented the PAES 2 Inga programme and opened discussions on cooperation to train future Congolese hydropower professionals.
Preparing Congolese Talent for Grand Inga
The mission placed national skills at the centre of the DRC's hydroelectric ambitions. Developing Grand Inga and Inga 3 will require professionals capable of contributing to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of large energy infrastructure.
PAES 2 Inga is designed to strengthen higher-education programmes connected to hydropower and create closer links among Congolese universities, technical institutes, businesses, industrial operators and research centres.
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The programme seeks to anticipate future skills requirements while expanding practical training, access to teaching equipment, professional internships and applied research. This approach can help ensure that Congolese graduates are prepared for the technical employment opportunities created by the country's energy transformation.
Universities, Technical Institutes and Energy Institutions Unite
The Congolese delegation brought together institutions directly connected to energy development and professional training.
Representatives came from the Inga project development agency, the National Electricity Company, the Ministry of Higher Education, Universities, Scientific Research and Innovation, the University of Kinshasa and the University of Lubumbashi.
The National Institute of Building and Public Works and the Kinshasa Higher Institute of Applied Techniques also participated, strengthening the mission's focus on engineering, construction, electricity and applied technical education.
By bringing public institutions, universities and technical schools into the same delegation, the DRC presented a coordinated national approach to developing the human resources required by Grand Inga.
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Grand Inga Presented to International Industry Leaders
Business Hydro gave the Congolese delegation a platform to present Grand Inga and PAES 2 Inga to major players across the hydroelectric value chain.
The official Business Hydro programme describes the Grenoble event as a meeting point for specialists in engineering, civil works, equipment manufacturing, research, training, plant operation and maintenance. The 2026 edition brought together more than 200 exhibitors and approximately 2,500 participants.
The DRC operated a dedicated stand promoting Grand Inga and its higher-education strategy. Congolese representatives also presented the country's hydroelectric ambitions during a session involving major sector participants, including EDF, Vinci Energies, Artelia and Eiffage.
The mission continued through professional meetings and visits connected to operations and training. According to Gazette du Continent, discussions explored cooperation in teaching equipment, technical-training platforms, applied research, company internships and graduate employment.
Turning International Expertise Into Congolese Skills
The Grenoble mission supports a broader national objective: ensuring that the development of Grand Inga produces knowledge, technical capacity and professional opportunities inside the DRC.
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Rather than treating infrastructure and education as separate priorities, PAES 2 Inga connects them. Universities and technical institutes can adapt their courses to the real needs of the hydropower industry, while partnerships with experienced companies can provide practical exposure and knowledge transfer.
This direction also builds on wider cooperation between the DRC and France around Grand Inga. In February 2026, the two countries signed a memorandum supporting implementation of the project under the principle of preparing both the project for the country and the country for the project. The earlier agreement linked infrastructure development with national readiness and institutional capacity.
Congolese Expertise for a Congolese Energy Future
Grand Inga is not only an electricity project. It is also an opportunity to develop a new generation of Congolese engineers, technicians, researchers, instructors and energy managers.
The mission to Grenoble marks a practical step toward that goal. It placed Congolese institutions before international industry leaders, created new training connections and highlighted the country's determination to prepare its own people for the opportunities associated with one of Africa's most important energy ambitions.
The next stage will focus on developing the contacts established in France into training partnerships aligned with the DRC's priorities. Through PAES 2 Inga, the country is building the human foundation needed to ensure that Congolese professionals participate fully in the construction and long-term operation of their national energy infrastructure.
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