The DRC said earlier this month it had picked FFI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortescue Metals Group, to develop the Grand Inga project, a reported US$80 billion development which would include up to 42GW of hydroelectric capacity.

However, FMG said it had held discussions but no binding agreement had been reached.

Reports in The Guardian indicated the project would include the construction of port infrastructure with green hydrogen and green ammonia production facilities.

"The immense supply of green energy Inga would generate could be used to enable full value chain conversion of West Africa's vast iron ore and bauxite deposits," said Kettle, vice chair of metals and mining at WoodMac.

Kettle said iron ore could be converted into ‘green' steel using a process such as the Hybrit method under development by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall in Sweden.

"This requires an abundance of green hydrogen and green electricity to produce sponge iron," said Kettle.

It is essentially the same story for aluminium, he said.

"Access underdeveloped bauxite resources, then convert to alumina using green power — electrically-heated steam and hydrogen calcination (the latter is under early stage investigation by Rio Tinto in Australia). Conversion into green aluminium would be achieved using inert anode technology," said Kettle.

"Aside from the reduction in direct emissions, a far simpler and shorter supply chain would lower transportation emissions.

"There would also be the added benefits of high-value job creation and significant tax receipts.

"Overall, such a strategy could provide an accelerated development path for countries who can, in some instances, feel that they have been used primarily as a source of ore,"