Omanghana
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun commercial operations on what is described as Africa’s first utility-scale solar and battery system capable of supplying renewable electricity around the clock.
The facility, developed and operated by independent power producer CrossBoundary Energy, officially entered commercial operation on August 12, 2026. It now supplies continuous renewable baseload power directly to Africa’s largest copper mining operation.
The project consists of a 233-megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic plant supported by a 123 MVA battery energy storage system with a capacity of 526 megawatt-hours.
Together, the technologies guarantee Kamoa-Kakula a minimum continuous output of 30 megawatts, including at night and during periods of cloudy weather.
Construction was completed within 16 months of the power purchase agreement being signed in April 2025. The delivery period is nearly half the approximately 29-month regional average for comparable utility-scale energy projects in Africa.
Although Kamoa-Kakula receives a substantial portion of its electricity from regional hydroelectric sources, unreliable grid supply and transmission constraints have frequently forced the mining complex to depend on diesel generators and expensive imported power.
The new solar and battery facility is expected to improve energy security while reducing the operation’s exposure to fuel-price increases and diesel supply challenges.
Reliable electricity is particularly important for Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site direct-to-blister flash smelter. Designed to produce 500,000 tonnes of copper annually, the facility is regarded as Africa’s largest single-line copper smelter.
The renewable energy project is also expected to strengthen Kamoa-Kakula’s environmental performance. Already recognised as one of the world’s highest-grade and lowest-carbon copper producers, the mining complex is positioned to further reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by replacing more diesel-generated and carbon-intensive electricity.
Kamoa-Kakula is operated through a joint venture in which Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining Group each hold a 39.6% interest. The DRC government owns 20%, while Crystal River Global controls the remaining 0.8%.
A second privately financed solar-plus-storage project is already under development. Once completed, the two installations will have a combined capacity of 433 MWp of solar power and 1,107 MWh of battery storage, providing 60 MW of continuous baseload electricity.
The mining complex ultimately plans to increase its on-site renewable baseload supply to 120 MW by the end of 2027. The additional power will support Kamoa-Kakula’s expansion program and its target of producing approximately 500,000 tones of copper annually from 2028.
Source: Omanghana
