Joining the ministers in this landmark event is a distinguished group of ministerial speakers, including Congo’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, and Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) of Nigeria. CEIF 2025, under the theme, Securing Growth and Investment in a New Era, is poised to redefine the future of energy development in Congo and the broader Central African region.

The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

A major project set to be highlighted at the forum is the Sounda Hydropower Plant, scheduled to begin construction in 2025. Upon completion in 2030, the plant will add 600-800 MW to Congo’s energy grid. A Memorandum of Understanding for the $9.4 billion project was signed in September 2024 by Minister Ousso and Li Xi Zhen, CEO of engineering firm China Overseas Corporation. The project will be financed by China Overseas, marking a key milestone in Congo’s energy transformation and falling directly under the Ministry of Water and Energy’s efforts to enhance the country’s energy infrastructure.

Additionally, in January 2025, Minister Soudan-Nonault inaugurated the second phase of the Biodev 2030 project, aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation and promoting ecosystem sustainability in Congo. The French Development Agency has committed $400,000 to the initiative, which focuses on creating a multi-stakeholder platform to coordinate national biodiversity actions and explore innovative funding mechanisms, such as biodiversity certificates and payments for ecosystem services. The project aligns with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment’s goals of fostering sustainable development and environmental preservation in the country.

With the participation of Minister Ousso and Minister Soudan-Nonault, CEIF 2025 will position Congo as a prime energy and development investment destination. The event will facilitate open dialogue and provide a platform for new deals and financing opportunities across various sectors of the Congolese economy. Their leadership is crucial in driving forward these initiatives and reinforcing Congo’s strategic priorities in energy, tourism and environmental sustainability.

“Through their participation in CEIF 2025, Minister Soudan-Nonault and Minister Ousso are establishing an essential platform for collaboration, spurring new investments and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future that will benefit both the nation and the broader region. Their commitment to transformative projects reflects a bold vision for economic diversification and long-term development in the Republic of Congo,” says Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director at Energy Capital & Power.