Washington (IINA) – The World Bank has suspended its funding for the first phase of the Inga 3 power project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid concerns over compliance with environmental and social standards.

The lender said on Monday that it withdrew its funding following disagreements over the “strategic direction” of the project. “This follows the Government of DRC’s decision to take the project in a different strategic direction to that agreed between the World Bank and the government in 2014,” the bank said in a statement.

In 2014, World Bank had approved a $ 73.1 million grant for the $14 billion first phase of the mega hydroelectric project and went ahead to disburse 6 percent of the funding.

At stake is a project that has the capacity to generate a record 44,000 MW of electricity at a cost of nearly $100 billion upon completion and could power half of Africa, while some say it will be the largest dam in the world. However, Congolese government remains confident that the project will continue, adding that construction is expected to begin in June next year and last for about five years.