by utilizing the hydroelectric potential of the inga dam and by constructing one switching station near kinshasa at selo, the government of zaire under mobutu sese seko was theoretically able to control the flow of power to secession-prone katanga, then shaba, province, but never actually exercised this option. it was reported in "la libre belgique", a brussels newspaper, that tractionel, a belgian electrical contractor, had argued that more economical alternatives were available nearer shaba, using low-head generator plants, but had been overlooked in favor of the american consortium, consisting of morrison-knudsen international as a prime contractor, and swedish asea, italian sadelmi-cogepi and irish ge subsidiary as sub-contractors.