Kamoa Copper Solar/BESS Baseload Facility

CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) has commissioned one of Africa’s most innovative renewable energy solutions: a solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) designed to provide dispatchable baseload power for Kamoa Copper S.A.’s mining complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kamoa-Kakula solar/BESS baseload energy facility is notable because:

• The project will integrate a 233 MWp solar PV facility with a 526 MWh battery energy storage system, ensuring a 30 MW guaranteed baseload supply with 95% annual availability—a first-of-its-kind achievement for solar and storage in sub-Saharan Africa
• This solution addresses the mine’s need for reliable, low-carbon energy by reducing dependence on diesel generators and mitigating grid reliability challenges. It is expected to offset approximately 78,750 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually and produce ~300,000 MWh of clean energy per year, supporting Kamoa Copper’s net-zero commitments
• By leveraging declining costs of solar and battery technologies, the project demonstrates that renewable baseload power can now compete with and outperform traditional fossil fuel generation in heavy industry. This marks a significant step toward sustainable mining and energy security in the region
• The Kamoa-Kakula mining complex is among the world’s largest and lowest-carbon copper producers. Reliable renewable energy will enable continued expansion while reinforcing DRC’s position as a leader in responsible resource development

The project was announced in Q2 2025. When signed, it was one of the largest commercial and industrial solar PV/BESS projects in Africa. The project was commissioned in August, just 16 months after signing the PPA. This makes it the fastest built large-scale solar/BESS project in Africa.

Project timeline

• April 2025: Kamoa Copper S.A. and CrossBoundary Energy signed the power purchase agreement and announced the project
• May–August 2025: Detailed engineering, procurement, manufacturing and early construction activities progressed in parallel; site works began during this period
• March 2026: Production license received from Provincial Governor of Lualaba Province. Construction passed the halfway mark. Major civil works and BESS foundations were substantially complete, battery-container installation was underway, and solar-module installation had begun
• June 2026: The plant exported its first electricity to Kamoa Copper, approximately 13 months after site access, while phased commissioning and performance testing continued
• July 2026: Marketing license received from the Provincial Governor of Lualaba Province
• August 2026: The facility reached commercial operation and began supplying 30 MW of firm renewable baseload power, around 16 months after the PPA was signed.