The Democratic Republic of the Congo has inaugurated a $522 million solar power and battery storage complex serving the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in Lualaba province. The facility now supplies the operation with 60 megawatts (MW) of continuous electricity, helping reduce its reliance on diesel generators and unreliable grid power.
Water Resources and Electricity Minister Aimé Molendo Sakombi presided over the inauguration on October 16 near Kolwezi, according to the country’s Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE).
The complex combines 433 MW of peak solar generating capacity with a battery storage system capable of holding 1,107 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. Together, the installations can deliver 60 MW around the clock, providing a more stable power supply for the mine’s extraction, processing and smelting operations.
The project was developed through a partnership between Kamoa Copper and energy companies CrossBoundary Energy and Green World Energie. The two companies finance, own and operate the facilities, while Kamoa Copper purchases the electricity under long-term power purchase agreements. The ARE values the investment at $522 million.
Cutting diesel consumption
Both solar facilities reached full operating capacity by September 23, following construction that began in June 2025. The first installation started supplying electricity in August, with the second coming online in late September.
According to Ivanhoe Mines, which holds an indirect 39.6% stake in Kamoa-Kakula, diesel consumption by the mine’s on-site generators fell by approximately 40% in September compared with July as the solar facilities ramped up.
Reliable electricity is essential to the complex, which includes a large copper smelter. Power interruptions can disrupt operations and force the mine to rely on diesel-fired backup generation, adding to operating costs. The solar and battery system is designed to reduce that exposure while providing a more predictable source of electricity.
The project serves the Kamoa-Kakula operation rather than the wider electricity market, where supply shortages remain a constraint on mining and industrial activity across the DRC’s Copperbelt.
Capacity set to double
Kamoa-Kakula plans to increase its continuous solar-backed power supply from 60 MW to 120 MW within 18 months. Ivanhoe Mines said two additional power purchase agreements had been signed: one with Green World Energie in April 2026 and another with Lualaba Solar Company in August.
Each agreement covers an additional 30 MW of continuous electricity supply. The expansion is intended to support the mine’s operations as it develops its copper production and smelting capacity.
The project illustrates how private investment and long-term power purchase agreements can help mining companies secure dedicated electricity supplies in regions facing persistent power shortages. However, expanding reliable access to electricity across the DRC will also require broader investment in generation and transmission infrastructure.
