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GV EXTERIOR Conference centre with placards and flags (3 shots)
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SV Conference President addressing delegates (3 shots)
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A four-day international congress on electrical energy opened in Kinshasa last week to discuss the energy problems confronting developing nations -- particularly African states.

The congress has been organised by the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electrical Energy in Africa (UPDEA). African, Western and Asian countries sent delegations to the meeting.

Discussions will centre on those countries that are not self sufficient in petroleum products and whose electricity commissions are members of the UPDEA.

While concentrating on the use of electrical energy to solve problems, the congress will also consider the practical use of other energy forms such as solar, nuclear and tidal.

Amongst the other items on the agenda are talks on the building of joint-projects such as hydro-electric schemes, dams and power plants.

Manpower will come under attention, with UPDEA members considering the problem of recruiting enough highly skilled engineers to build and design their energy plants.

Once again co-operation will be considered here with the possibility of a jointly financed school to train engineers to be build in one of the member countries.

The congress is being chaired by Zaire's Minister for Energy Muntu Kabobi.