MINERS in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Copperbelt could save about $1bn a year by replacing diesel generation with imported electricity under a planned regional power project, Reuters reported.
Gridworks Development Partners and commodities trader Trafigura are backing a $300m transmission project linking Kalumbila in Zambia with Kolwezi in Congo.
The 200km Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector Project will allow up to 550MW of electricity to be imported into a mining region facing a power deficit of more than 1GW.
Total transmission capacity is expected to reach 700MW, with scope to expand beyond 1GW.
Congo, the world’s largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, has struggled with chronic power shortages that have constrained mine expansion, processing and investment.
Trafigura’s Congo head, Herve Otschudi, said industry studies suggested miners could save about $1bn annually by replacing costly diesel generation with imported electricity.
“You cannot significantly expand copper and cobalt production, refining, or local beneficiation without reliable power,” he said.
Gridworks will be the lead equity investor and majority shareholder in the project alongside Congo’s state investment fund FIS-RDC, Congolese power trader EnPower and Trafigura.
The partners said the project had secured the necessary concessions, licences and approvals and was in its final development stage. No start date was provided.