Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Activates Continental Groundbreaking Solar Battery Plant in DRC

Africa’s largest copper mining complex has started receiving continuous electricity from a 233-megawatt-peak solar farm and one of the continent’s biggest battery-storage systems. The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached commercial operation on August 12, according to an announcement made by CrossBoundary Energy on August 25. The facility combines the solar installation with a battery capable of storing 526 megawatt-hours of electricity, designed to supply at least 30 megawatts of continuous power even when the sun is not shining. CrossBoundary completed the project in 16 months from the signing of its power-purchase agreement in April 2025, which is faster than the approximately 29-month industry average for comparable utility-scale African projects.

Kamoa-Kakula is owned by Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines, China’s Zijin Mining, Crystal River Global, and the Congolese government. Ivanhoe and Zijin each hold an indirect 39.6% interest, the DRC government owns 20%, and Crystal River holds the remaining 0.8%. The complex produced approximately 388,800 tonnes of copper in 2025 and generated revenue of $3.28 billion. Its new on-site smelter can process 500,000 tonnes of copper annually, making it the largest copper smelter in Africa. While the complex already receives much of its electricity from hydropower, instability within the DRC electricity system has previously forced the mine to use diesel generators and import power from neighbouring countries.

The newly operational facility is part of a larger renewable energy programme at Kamoa-Kakula. Ivanhoe previously announced that two privately funded solar and battery projects at the complex would eventually provide a combined 60 megawatts of baseload power through 433 MWp of solar panels and 1,107 MWh of battery storage. Kamoa-Kakula plans to double its on-site solar baseload supply to 120 megawatts by the end of 2027 as it works towards producing approximately 500,000 tonnes of copper annually from 2028. The solar-and-battery system is designed to reduce the complex's exposure to diesel-price volatility and disruptions affecting fuel supplies, though CrossBoundary did not disclose construction costs or the electricity price.

Why This Matters

Industrial operations across Central Africa face persistent infrastructure deficits that constrain mineral output. When national grids fail to provide stable baseload power, heavy industry is forced to rely on expensive diesel generation or secure cross-border imports, introducing severe operational vulnerability and currency exposure. By integrating utility-scale battery storage with solar generation, large resource projects can insulate their production cycles from external power shocks. This approach establishes a new operational benchmark for heavy industry across the continent, proving that intermittent renewables can be engineered to deliver continuous industrial baseload capacity.

The strategy also reflects a broader shift in how critical minerals are extracted and processed in regions with constrained public infrastructure. Rather than waiting for state-led grid expansions, international mining consortia are deploying private capital to construct dedicated power ecosystems. As global demand for copper accelerates due to its central role in electric vehicles, data centres, and renewable energy grids, securing reliable on-site energy becomes a fundamental determinant of market competitiveness. Private infrastructure delivery bypasses bureaucratic delays, ensuring that mineral supply chains can scale rapidly enough to meet the demands of the global energy transition.

Opportunities

• Contractors and Developers: Commercial opening for engineering and construction firms to deliver utility-scale solar and battery storage projects faster than traditional timelines through streamlined execution.
• Mining Operators: Commercial opening for resource extraction companies to replicate private renewable energy integration models to eliminate diesel reliance and secure uninterrupted industrial baseload power.
• Financiers and Investors: Commercial opening to fund privately structured energy infrastructure assets that support high-grade mineral production complexes in complex regulatory jurisdictions.
• Equipment Suppliers: Commercial opening to provide high-capacity photovoltaic panels and advanced megawatt-hour battery storage systems designed for demanding industrial applications.

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