Kamoa Copper S.A. and CrossBoundary Energy have entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply renewable baseload energy to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper mining complex, one of the largest copper mines globally, located near Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Kamoa Copper S.A. joint venture, composed of Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (which holds a 20% stake), operates Africa’s largest copper mining complex, with an annual copper production capacity of approximately 600,000 tonnes. The new on-site direct-to-blister copper smelter is slated to begin operations in Q2 2025.
The solar project, Africa’s first of its kind, will feature a 222 MWp solar PV system alongside a 123 MVA/526 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The plant will provide a 30 MW renewable energy supply to the mine, displacing fuel-powered generators and cutting carbon emissions by about 78,750 tonnes annually. CrossBoundary Energy will own and manage the plant, with Kamoa Copper purchasing the energy used. It is expected to produce around 300,000 MWh of clean energy annually.
While many mining operations have integrated solar PV and BESS systems, providing baseload renewable energy—a consistent power output at all times—is uncommon due to concerns over intermittency. However, with advancements in solar PV efficiency and declining BESS costs, a renewable baseload system has become feasible and is now more cost-effective than the diesel generators previously used at the mine.
“This is a pivotal moment for Kamoa Copper and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a company, Kamoa Copper has been setting innovative benchmarks in various domains, and with this partnership on baseload renewable energy, we will continue to do so. We are pleased to have CrossBoundary Energy as our first partner in this endeavor. Their commitment to honesty, integrity, and delivery is exemplary. We anticipate hard work and successful outcomes from this project. From Kamoa Copper’s side, we are committed to providing unwavering support to ensure our suppliers’ success, as we demand excellence in all our collaborations,” stated Annebel Oosthuizen, managing director of Kamoa Copper.
“The solar project is a key milestone in delivering clean, reliable energy to Kamoa Copper. With advanced solar and battery systems, we’re boosting energy resilience, cutting emissions, and advancing sustainable mining. We commend CrossBoundary Energy for their professionalism and technical expertise,” remarked Auguy Bakome, project manager at Kamoa Copper.
“Africa’s most significant hindrance to growth and investment is access to reliable and affordable power. Projects like these prove that distributed clean energy can now provide cheaper baseload power, even for heavy industry. We congratulate the Kamoa Copper S.A. team for this project, which will advance the whole sector,” concluded Matthew Tilleard, managing partner at CrossBoundary Energy.
