In a landmark move towards sustainable mining, Kamoa Copper S.A. has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with CrossBoundary Energy to develop a groundbreaking baseload renewable energy system for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper mining complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The agreement will see CrossBoundary Energy deliver a 30 MW baseload power supply through a hybrid system comprising a 222 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 123 MVA/526 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). This is set to significantly reduce the mine’s reliance on diesel generators, cutting approximately 78,750 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Slated to begin construction in August 2025, the renewable energy facility will produce an estimated 300,000 MWh of clean energy per year. CrossBoundary Energy will own and operate the system, while Kamoa Copper will pay for the energy consumed.

Kamoa Copper, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, and the Government of the DRC (which holds a 20% stake), operates one of the largest copper mining complexes in the world, with an annual production capacity of around 600,000 tonnes. The mine’s new on-site direct-to-blister copper smelter is expected to begin ramping up operations in the second quarter of 2025.

This renewable energy initiative is being hailed as the first of its kind in Africa to provide guaranteed baseload power from solar and battery storage—a solution once considered unfeasible due to concerns over intermittency. However, advancements in solar PV efficiency and decreasing costs of battery storage systems have made such projects not only viable but also more cost-effective than traditional diesel power sources.

Annebel Oosthuizen, Managing Director of Kamoa Copper, described the agreement as a “pivotal moment” for both the company and the DRC, stating, “We are setting innovative benchmarks in sustainable operations, and this partnership with CrossBoundary Energy will further strengthen that commitment.”

Auguy Bakome, Project Manager at Kamoa Copper, emphasized the project’s role in delivering clean and resilient energy, adding, “With advanced solar and battery systems, we’re boosting energy resilience, cutting emissions, and advancing sustainable mining.”

Matthew Tilleard, Managing Partner at CrossBoundary Energy, underscored the broader significance of the project, saying, “Africa’s biggest constraint to growth is access to reliable and affordable power. Projects like this demonstrate that distributed clean energy can now support even heavy industry at scale.”

Franck Alloghe, Business Development Director at CrossBoundary Energy, called the agreement a signal of change in mining energy strategy, affirming, “Diesel generators are no longer the only viable option for guaranteed baseload. Baseload from the sun is here.”

The Kamoa-Kakula project sets a precedent for the mining sector and affirms Kamoa Copper’s position as a leader in the transition to sustainable industrial practices in Africa.