The Katende hydroelectric project has entered a new phase of visible momentum after construction equipment arrived by rail in Mwene-Ditu for onward transport to the project area and Kasaï-Central Governor Joseph-Moïse Kambulu Nkonko announced the release of $15 million to companies executing the works.
The two developments strengthen the government-led effort to advance one of the Grand Kasaï region’s most important energy projects.
The equipment arrived in Mwene-Ditu during the night of August 4–5, 2026. It is expected to continue toward Tshimbulu, in the territory of Dibaya, before reaching the Katende project site. Local reporting indicates that part of the equipment is intended to support the installation of the first pylons for the electricity-transmission line toward Kananga.
Separately, Governor Kambulu announced that $15 million expected for Katende had been disbursed and transferred to the companies working on the project, according to 7sur7.
Together, the financing announcement and movement of equipment provide two practical signs of progress: resources for the companies and machinery moving closer to the construction zone.
Latest Development at a Glance
From National Relaunch to Visible Movement on the Ground
The latest development builds on the national government’s formal relaunch of the Grand Katende project in May 2025.
At that stage, the Ministries of Finance and Hydraulic Resources and Electricity presented a renewed technical and financing framework covering the dam, transmission lines, implementation phases and the mobilisation of project partners.
The Ministry of Finance said the process of transporting equipment and rehabilitating the site had begun with state financing. The government placed the project under a steering framework co-chaired by the two ministries, with the Cellule d’Exécution des Financements en faveur des États Fragiles serving as the implementation agency and the public entity Gestion des Centrales de Katende et Kakobola providing technical supervision with experts.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Katende Hydropower Project Gains Momentum With $15 Million
Aug 6, 2026
Aug 6, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
The Katende hydroelectric project has entered a new phase of visible momentum after construction equipment arrived by rail in Mwene-Ditu for onward transport to the project area and Kasaï-Central Governor Joseph-Moïse Kambulu Nkonko announced the release of $15 million to companies executing the works.
The two developments strengthen the government-led effort to advance one of the Grand Kasaï region’s most important energy projects.
The equipment arrived in Mwene-Ditu during the night of August 4–5, 2026. It is expected to continue toward Tshimbulu, in the territory of Dibaya, before reaching the Katende project site. Local reporting indicates that part of the equipment is intended to support the installation of the first pylons for the electricity-transmission line toward Kananga.
Separately, Governor Kambulu announced that $15 million expected for Katende had been disbursed and transferred to the companies working on the project, according to 7sur7.
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Together, the financing announcement and movement of equipment provide two practical signs of progress: resources for the companies and machinery moving closer to the construction zone.
Latest Development at a Glance
Component | Confirmed or announced update |
Equipment movement | Project equipment arrived by rail in Mwene-Ditu during the night of August 4–5 |
Next logistical stage | Onward transport toward Tshimbulu and the Katende project area in Dibaya territory |
Financing update | Governor Joseph-Moïse Kambulu announced that $15 million had been released to companies executing the works |
Planned generating capacity | 64 MW across three phases |
Initial phase | 16 MW, prioritising Kananga and Bukonde |
Second phase | An additional 32 MW, extending supply across Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental and Tshimbulu |
Final phase | A further 16 MW, bringing total planned capacity to 64 MW |
Wider infrastructure | Transmission lines, distribution networks and supporting electricity infrastructure |
Current status | Equipment and funding momentum; no new commissioning date or electricity-production milestone was announced in this update |
From National Relaunch to Visible Movement on the Ground
The latest development builds on the national government’s formal relaunch of the Grand Katende project in May 2025.
At that stage, the Ministries of Finance and Hydraulic Resources and Electricity presented a renewed technical and financing framework covering the dam, transmission lines, implementation phases and the mobilisation of project partners.
The Ministry of Finance said the process of transporting equipment and rehabilitating the site had begun with state financing. The government placed the project under a steering framework co-chaired by the two ministries, with the Cellule d’Exécution des Financements en faveur des États Fragiles serving as the implementation agency and the public entity Gestion des Centrales de Katende et Kakobola providing technical supervision with experts.
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The arrival of equipment in Mwene-Ditu now gives that national relaunch a highly visible logistical dimension. Rail transport is bringing project materials closer to Katende, while the announced financing gives the participating companies additional capacity to advance their work.
For the population, the images of machinery arriving by train can make an immense infrastructure project feel more immediate and tangible.
A 64 MW Energy Vision for the Grand Kasaï
Katende is planned as a 64-megawatt hydroelectric development delivered in three phases.
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The first phase is designed to provide 16 MW, with Kananga and Bukonde identified as priority areas. A second phase would add 32 MW and extend the project’s reach across Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental and Tshimbulu. The final 16 MW would bring the planned total capacity to 64 MW.
The project extends beyond electricity generation. The official framework also includes transmission lines, distribution networks and the infrastructure required to carry power from the plant to the communities, public services and economic centres expected to benefit.
That complete approach is essential because a power station creates its greatest impact when electricity can move reliably from the generation site to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and productive industries.
The government has previously said the project is intended to strengthen electricity access for more than 50,000 households. Its regional importance is even wider: reliable power can create the foundation for economic activity serving millions of residents across the Grand Kasaï.
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