energy
25.08.2026
Announcement
25.08.2026
Announcement

Africa’s first solar and battery baseload facility reaches commercial operation in record time, signalling a new era for round-the-clock renewable power

Key takeaways
CrossBoundary Energy’s baseload solar/BESS plant in the DRC has reached commercial operation, just 16 months after signing a PPA with Kamoa Copper S.A. in April 2025
The solution comprises 233 MWp solar PV and 123 MVA/526 MWh BESS that will supply the mine with 30 MW firm power from solar and batteries
Reaching COD just 16 months after signing the PPA makes it the fastest solar/BESS project of this type and scale to be delivered on the African continent
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CrossBoundary Energy's solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) facility for Kamoa Copper S.A. reached commercial operation on 12 August 2026 and is supplying 30 MW baseload power from the sun to Africa’s largest copper mining complex

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 25 August 2026—CrossBoundary Energy today announced that its solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) facility for Kamoa Copper S.A. reached commercial operation on 12 August 2026 and is supplying 30 MW baseload power from the sun to Africa’s largest copper mining complex.

Kamoa Copper S.A., a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, and the DRC Government, signed the power purchase agreement with CrossBoundary Energy in April 2025, just 16 months ago. The energy system consists of a 233 MWp solar PV array and 123 MVA/526 MWh BESS to supply at least 30 MW baseload power to the mine.

Firm renewable electricity costs have fallen by ~50% in five years, making solar-plus-storage cheaper than conventional thermal baseload generation. The speed of delivery ensures that Kamoa-Kakula will receive cheaper and cleaner electrons years ahead of other power supply options.

According to industry publication African Energy, the average utility-scale solar/BESS solution in Africa takes around 29 months from power purchase agreement signing to commercial operation date. This makes the project not only the first operational solar/BESS baseload power project in Africa, but also the fastest.
"Achieving this milestone with Kamoa Copper S.A. is a significant step to mainstreaming round-the-clock renewable power. It proves how quickly clean, stable energy can be deployed – and the great potential of renewable energy solutions to support the mining sector’s ambitious growth. We’re grateful to our public sector stakeholders for believing in the value of this project, including the Electricity Sector Regulatory Authority (ARE) through DG Soraya Aziz-Moto, the Government of Lualaba Province under H.E. Governor Fifi Masuka, and the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulic Resources under H.E. Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo."

Gracia Munganga, Project Development director at CrossBoundary Energy
"“Kamoa-Kakula continues to lead the way in sustainable mining, with our copper production being among the lowest carbon-intensive in the world. The new facility by CrossBoundary Energy will help power our planned growth in copper production, delivering an additional 30 megawatts of reliable, renewable baseload power."

Annebel Oosthuizen, Managing Director at Kamoa Copper S.A.
"The speed at which this project was delivered demonstrates how quickly renewable energy can be deployed at scale to support remote mining operations. It also reflects the strong partnership we have built with CrossBoundary Energy. This project shows that solar and battery storage can deliver dependable, sustainable and cost-effective baseload power for large mining operations. We are confident that renewable energy will continue to play a critical role in supporting the growth of our operations and the mining sector more broadly."

Auguy Bakome, Project Manager at Kamoa Copper S.A.
"An immense collaborative approach allowed us to overcome obstacles and build this project at an unprecedented pace, without compromising on quality. We’re grateful to all our partners on the project, including our client, investors, advisors, contractors, and suppliers, for what we’ve achieved together. We’ve set a new benchmark for what is achievable for renewable energy deployment."

Richard Stanford, Chief Technical Officer at CrossBoundary Energy

Early adopters of round-the-clock solar/BESS like Kamoa Copper S.A. stand to benefit from reduced diesel cost volatility and supply chain risk, whilst reducing carbon emissions significantly through clean power procurement.

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