Impacts of climate change on water resources and hydro production at Inga Falls, Congo

Climate change is likely to affect hydropower production to different extents, in different regions. In some areas, the impacts will be positive, while in others, they will be negative. This paper presents the results of an evaluation carried out for the Inga I and II projects in the Congo river basin. Hydrological and hydropower simulations were used to evaluate the impacts of changes in production capacity. Results indicate that the water resources potential for hydropower in the river basin is likely to increase by between 1 and 4 per cent towards the end of the century. Seasonal analysis indicates that there will be a slight increase in all seasons apart from the period of March to May, during which time decreases in runoff are expected.