The Kamoa-Kakula mining complex in Lualaba province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to diversify its electricity supply. A new power purchase agreement provides for a solar photovoltaic installation combined with batteries to supply baseload power to the mine. It is the fourth project of this kind announced for the site.
The agreement with Lualaba Solar Company was signed in August 2026, according to Ivanhoe Mines’ operational update published on October 8. It covers capacity of 30 megawatts and follows a contract for the same capacity awarded to Green World Energie in April. Public information reviewed does not yet specify the project’s cost, electricity tariff or exact commissioning date.
A strategy moving from 60 to 120 MW
The new agreement joins two installations of 30 MW each developed by CrossBoundary Energy and Green World Energie. The first began supplying electricity in August 2026 and the second became operational in late September. Together, these units provide up to 60 MW of baseload power to the complex, from 433 MWp of solar panels and a 1,107 MWh battery storage system.
This configuration illustrates a central challenge of solar power in mining: panels generate mainly during sunny hours, while operations need continuous supply. Storage enables some energy to be shifted and power to be supplied more consistently. According to CrossBoundary Energy, the two plants were designed to deliver firm power with annual availability of 95%. This estimate is an announced project characteristic, rather than an already established measure of long-term performance.
Kamoa-Kakula also has an on-site hybrid solar-and-battery plant whose operational capacity has reached 60 MW. Ivanhoe says the installation completed its ramp-up in September. The company plans to double this capacity to 120 MW within 18 months, drawing on new power purchase agreements with Green World Energie and Lualaba Solar Company. These projects are also to be built within Kamoa-Kakula’s joint concession area.
Reducing exposure to diesel and the grid
For a mine of this size, electricity continuity is an operational requirement. Grinding equipment, ventilation systems, pumps and processing facilities cannot be interrupted without affecting safety and production volumes. Diesel generators provide backup when the grid does not meet needs, but entail fuel and logistics costs and expose operations to supply fluctuations.
Ivanhoe reports that following the ramp-up of its hybrid solar installation, diesel consumption by the site’s backup generators fell around 40% in September compared with July. This comparison concerns backup generator consumption over a short period; it must not be interpreted as a 40% reduction in all mine emissions or energy consumption. The company expects a further decline in the fourth quarter, but future operating data must confirm this development.
CrossBoundary Energy’s photovoltaic-plus-storage system also aims to reduce diesel use and exposure to grid reliability problems. The company estimates that it could avoid around 78,750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually and generate some 300,000 MWh of renewable electricity. These figures are developer estimates. Verification will depend on actual performance, availability and generation measured over time.
An arrangement involving independent producers
Power purchase agreements enable Kamoa Copper to obtain supply from independent producers without necessarily financing all equipment itself. CrossBoundary Energy says it finances, builds and operates its assets. The precise structure of the new Green World Energie and Lualaba Solar Company agreements has not been detailed in accessible public information, making comparisons of their costs or contractual guarantees premature.
For producers, a large industrial buyer can secure revenues associated with a power plant. For the operator, value will depend on supply consistency, the price per kilowatt-hour, risk allocation rules and batteries’ ability to support demand when solar generation falls. Spare parts availability, maintenance and storage system life will also influence the project’s overall economics.
The growing number of contracts shows that solar-plus-battery solutions can meet part of mining demand, provided they are integrated with existing sources. Solar alone does not replace grid infrastructure or backup sources: it diversifies the supply portfolio. At Kamoa-Kakula, the combination of on-site installations and contracts with private operators aims to increase available power while reducing diesel consumption.
The test will be performance over time
Development of the four projects will allow an assessment of a solar-and-storage system’s ability to support continuous mining operations. Indicators to monitor include power actually delivered, installation availability, solar energy’s supply share, a lasting decline in generator use and the total electricity cost.
For the DRC, this model can help connect mining investment and energy generation more effectively where supply reliability determines industrial expansion. Kamoa-Kakula’s lessons could interest other major electricity consumers, provided differences among sites, grids and contracts are considered.
The fourth plant is not yet operational: it forms part of an announced program whose next steps still require clarification. Reaching 120 MW will therefore depend on completing planned installations and integrating them effectively into the mine’s internal grid. The challenge extends beyond adding panels and batteries: it is to demonstrate that renewable energy can be delivered with reliability compatible with a large copper mine’s requirements.