Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07KINSHASA592, INGA DAM: MOVING AT SNEL'S PACE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07KINSHASA592.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07KINSHASA592 2007-05-31 16:10 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kinshasa
VZCZCXRO1530
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0592/01 1511610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311610Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6207
INFO RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 4791
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG EAID EINV ECON CG
SUBJECT: INGA DAM: MOVING AT SNEL'S PACE 
 
REF: KINSHASA 512 
 
1. (U) Summary. Plans to rehabilitate portions of the DRC's 
Congo River Inga Dam complex, Africa's greatest potential 
hydroelectric source, are picking up some speed after 
stagnating for many years. One privately-funded upgrade is 
already underway, while multilateral donors are in the 
process of making more substantial commitments for 
rehabilitation. End summary. 
 
2. (U) On May 12, the USAID Mission Director, a visiting 
USTDA consultant and EconOff accompanied the Acting CEO of 
SNEL (DRC's electricity authority) to the Congo River's Inga 
dam and hydroelectric complex. Inga Dam, in Bas-Congo 
province, is a 45-minute flight from Kinshasa.  The complex 
takes its name from the small town in which it is located. 
SNEL officials told EmbOffs another nearby village has about 
5,000 residents. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
3. (U) The complex includes two plants - Inga One and Inga 
Two, a conversion station, and transmission facilities.  Inga 
One, completed in 1972, has six turbines and an installed 
capacity of 350 Megawatts (MW). Its two operating turbines 
produce no more than 116 MW.  At Inga Two, completed in 1982, 
three of eight turbines function, producing 500 to 600 MW, 
with a capacity of 1424 MW.  Inga is also the departure point 
for two high tension transmission lines, forming the famous 
Inga-Shaba line.  The line was built across the DRC in the 
1980s to bring power to (and exert control over) what is now 
known as Katanga province. Inga also generates power exported 
to the Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. 
 
4. (U) Two potential plants are Inga Three, with a projected 
output of 3500 MW, and the gemstone, Grand Inga, with a 
projected 40,000 MW output.  SNEL officials explained to 
EmbOffs that, unlike other significant hydroelectric dams, 
Inga's production can be relatively constant, because rain 
replenishes the Congo River year-round. SNEL officials said 
after the construction of Grand Inga they want to send Inga's 
power north to Egypt and possibly even to Europe, although 
transmission lines would first have to be installed. 
 
MANY PROBLEMS 
------------- 
 
5. (U) Inga is but one part of a severely debilitated power 
grid. Years of mismanagement, theft and conflict have caused 
the degradation, resulting in fluctuating power production 
and distribution, and frequent blackouts nationwide (reftel). 
 In addition to the turbines, all other aspects of Inga's 
complex need repair or replacement, including the conversion 
plant, transmission lines (frequently stolen as they are of 
high-priced copper) and much of the other associated 
equipment, such as regulators.  Further, substantial 
quantities of sand accumulated at the dams significantly slow 
the flow and electricity production.  The facilities' 
controls that EmbOffs saw consisted of old technology, with 
many non-functioning parts. 
 
REHABILITATION PLANS 
-------------------- 
 
6. (U) SNEL and the GDRC have discussed the much needed 
rehabilitation and expansion of Inga for many years with 
potential partners. The first significant work began in 2006. 
 Mag Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian company Mag Industries, 
entered into an agreement with SNEL to extend a credit of 
more than USD 13 million to rehabilitate one turbine at Inga 
Two in exchange for 130 MW of power to run its magnesium 
mining operations in Pointe Noire, ROC. The work is scheduled 
to end in December 2007.  The Central African Power Pool's 
Secretary told EconOff that Mag may fund the renovation of 
 
SIPDIS 
four additional turbines. 
Also underway is renovation of a power distribution center - 
a separate project not funded by Mag. 
 
7. (SBU) Additionally, the World Bank (WB) and the African 
Development Bank are in the process of committing about USD 
500 million for rehabilitation of the Inga complex (details 
to be reported septel).  According to EconOff's contacts, the 
WB is disgruntled about the Mag Energy project, claiming that 
 
KINSHASA 00000592  002 OF 002 
 
 
short-term repairs falling outside of a master plan may be 
ill-conceived and inconsistent with a coordinated program. 
Conversely, DRC energy sector officials with whom EconOff has 
spoken have complained of the slow pace at which WB has 
advanced its Inga plans in the face of urgent power needs 
(reftel). No sound funding plans yet exist for Grand Inga, 
with a multi-billion dollar price tag.  Mining company BHP 
Billiton entered into an agreement with the GDRC in 2006 to 
construct Inga 3 in exchange for power to operate an aluminum 
processing plant in Bas-Congo, but no work has begun. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
8. (SBU) Grand Inga is far from a reality, but positive signs 
exist that at least some efforts are underway to bring 
additional, desperately-needed power to the DRC and the 
region, and President Kabila has prioritized these efforts. 
Though media stories suggesting the DRC will soon be a major 
exporter of electricity are greatly exaggerated, it is 
nevertheless encouraging that some rehabilitation projects at 
Inga are likely to begin soon. End comment. 
MEECE