The DRC is seeking investors to develop an $80 billion dam across the Congo River to produce 40,000 megawatts.

The country is particularly looking at other African nations to invest, and will renegotiate an outstanding joint-venture for a smaller project with Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

The DRC needs 2,100 megawatts to develop the mining industry in the southern province of Katanga, which has a third of the world’s cobalt reserves and 4% of its copper.

The Congo is the world's second-largest river by volume after the Amazon.

Energy minister Solomon Banamuhere said the country plans to increase its supply to citizens- only 6% of DRC’s population have access to electricity in their homes-and to provide 2,000 megawatts to BHP Billiton Ltd for a proposed aluminum smelter.