Angola Awards 30-Year Power Corridor Concession to Somagec for Electricity Exports to DRC
Angola has awarded Somagec Energy Holding Limited (SEHL) a 30-year concession to develop and operate the Northern Corridor, a major electricity transmission project designed to enable power exports from Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while strengthening electricity supply to Cabinda.
The concession was approved through Presidential Decree No. 115/26 of July 2, 2026, and is being implemented under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model.
Under this arrangement, Somagec will assume responsibility for financing, constructing, operating and maintaining the infrastructure before eventually transferring it to the Angolan state.
Northern Corridor to connect Angola and DRC
The project includes a 400-kilovolt double-circuit transmission line along the Soyo-Matadi-Inga route.
The line will stretch approximately 181 kilometres and have a transmission capacity of up to 800 MW.
The corridor will also include a 220-kV line between Matadi and Cabinda, covering about 182 kilometres with capacity of up to 300 MW, as well as a 35-kilometre, 60-kV connection between Cabinda and Moanda.
The associated substations and supporting infrastructure will form part of the transmission network.
The concession is structured to minimise direct financial obligations for the Angolan government, with the concessionaire responsible for the project’s technical, financial, operational, environmental and social requirements.
The project is expected to strengthen Angola’s position as a regional electricity supplier while expanding reliable power access to Cabinda.
It will also establish a transmission link capable of supplying electricity to the DRC, including energy-intensive industrial and mining areas.
Boost for regional energy integration
The Northern Corridor forms part of Angola’s broader strategy to strengthen regional electricity trade and position the country within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and Central African Power Exchange (PEAC).
The Angolan government has also approved a draft Power Supply Agreement between the national electricity transmission company, RNT-E.P., and Somagec to facilitate electricity sales to the DRC market.
The project is particularly significant for the DRC, where reliable electricity supply remains critical to industrial development and the expansion of mining operations.
However, implementation remains subject to the final approval of feasibility studies, confirmation of the financing structure, acquisition of required licences and technical validation of the route by RNT-E.P.
Once completed, the Northern Corridor could strengthen cross-border electricity trade, support industrial growth and deepen energy cooperation between Angola and the DRC.
