Renewables
Ivanhoe completes major solar facility at DRC mine
Ivanhoe Mines has integrated a large hybrid solar and battery storage installation at the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key points
- The new installation delivers a continuous 60 megawatts of baseload electricity.
- The infrastructure includes a 433 MWp photovoltaic array and a 1,107 MWh battery system.
- The firm aims to expand total on-site renewable capacity to 120 megawatts within 18 months.
What happened
According to SolarQuarter reporting, Ivanhoe Mines has finalised a hybrid solar power and battery storage installation at its Kamoa-Kakula mining site located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project achieved full operational status during the third quarter of 2026, delivering a steady 60 megawatts of baseload electricity to industrial operations.
Infrastructure development combines a 433 megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic setup with a battery storage capacity of 1,107 megawatt-hours. Construction began in mid-2025, with CrossBoundary Energy and Green World Energie funding, owning and operating the assets while Kamoa-Kakula acts as the sole off-taker.
What comes next
Management intends to double the site's hybrid solar capacity to 120 megawatts over the next year and a half. Power purchase agreements were signed earlier in 2026 with Green World Energie and Lualaba Solar Company to secure an additional 30 megawatts each, supporting long-term operations at the joint-venture licence area.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
27.8% of electricity in the world was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
