By Renewable Energy Focus staff

AECOM was awarded the hydropower contract through RSW International Inc, which became part of AECOM in November 2010. The contract is related to the Grand Inga site in DR Congo.

AECOM and EDF will conduct a feasibility study on the hydropower development of the site and the associated interconnection transmission lines.

The Grand Inga site, located on the Congo River, has a potential of approximately 39 GW of hydropower electricity. The length of the four associated transmission lines (Inga-Nigeria, Inga-Egypt, Inga-South Africa through Zambia and Inga-South Africa through Angola) would total more than 8000 miles.

"AECOM is pleased to play an important role in the development of what has the potential to become one of the world's largest hydroelectric power plants," says AECOM President and CEO John M. Dionisio. "The Grand Inga feasibility study will be an important first step in the overall vision of developing a continent-wide power grid for Africa."

The feasibility study, financed by the African Development Bank, will be carried out over a period of two years under the direction of Société Nationale d'Électricité, the Democratic Republic of Congo's power utility.