The Kamoa-Kakula copper mining complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to become the first industrial site in Africa to run on 24-hour baseload power from a private renewable energy source in terms of a new agreement between Kamoa Copper and CrossBoundary Energy.
The power purchase agreement will see CrossBoundary develop a hybrid energy system combining 222 MWp of solar PV with 526 MWh of battery storage to deliver 30 MW of continuous, dispatchable power to the mining complex – one of the world’s largest. Construction is scheduled to begin in August.
The system is expected to offset diesel generators, reduce emissions by nearly 79 000 tonnes per year and generate around 300 000 MWh of clean electricity annually. The installation is designed to deliver power throughout the day and night, offering a new model for mines and other high-demand users in remote areas.
If delivered as planned, the project will represent Africa’s first private-sector baseload renewable energy supply. By contrast, several large hybrid projects in South Africa – such as Scatec’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and EDF Renewables’ Umoyilanga – deliver dispatchable power to Eskom under fixed schedules rather than continuous 24-hour supply.
“This agreement represents a change in energy supply for mining operations, indicating that diesel or heavy fuel oil generators are no longer the only viable option for guaranteed baseload power,” says Franck Alloghe, Business Development Director at CrossBoundary Energy.
Kamoa Copper, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group and the DRC government, is scaling up its energy demand ahead of the planned ramp-up of its on-site copper smelter in the second quarter of 2025. The smelter will increase the mine’s electricity needs, making reliable and low-emissions baseload power a strategic requirement.
“This is a pivotal moment for Kamoa Copper and the DRC. With this partnership in baseload renewable energy, we will continue to set new benchmarks,” said Annebel Oosthuizen, Kamoa Copper’s MD.
