A new initiative to alleviate the chronic power shortages hampering mining operations in southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is making steady progress, says private power trader Enterprise Power DRC (Enpower), which just completed an international tender process to procure the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package for a new high-voltage line between Kalumbila in Northwest Zambia and Kolwezi in the Lualaba province of the DRC (the KKIP).

The project will be privately funded and integrated into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) of which Enpower is a market participant. Enpower is actively trading power across SAPP to supply its DRC mining customers but says it recognised the need to bolster regional power transmission capacity to meet the increasing demand of the mining sector.

Enpower signed a collaboration agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2022 and a lead arranger mandate agreement in late 2024 to finance the construction of the KKIP.

This critical infrastructure project aims to connect southern DRC to the SAPP, which will significantly address the region’s growing power shortages and bolster energy supply for industrial clients, particularly those in the mining sector.

By enabling more efficient energy imports from the SAPP, the project is expected to provide a reliable, cost-effective power supply to mining companies in southern DRC, where demand continues to outstrip the available power supply.

The Kalumbila-Kolwezi interconnector project will establish a 330 kV transmission line with an initial thermal capacity of 700 MW, as well as holding potential to expand to 1 400 MW in the future.

Enpower has been developing the interconnector project as part of its mission to support industrial development in the DRC, says director Nikolai Germann.

He describes the signing of the mandate with IFC as a major milestone, highlighting that with supply and offtake agreements, development rights and environmental permits already in place, Enpower is already advancing toward improving power reliability and cost efficiency for the company’s clients in the DRC.

Urgent Requirement

The DRC mining industry, specifically, has long been hampered by unreliable and costly energy supply. Currently, power for the mining sector is sourced from a combination of the Inga Dam through a 1 700-km-long, 500 kV DC line, regional hydroelectric plants and captive diesel generators, Germann explains.

However, the grid’s existing power supply falls short by an estimated 1 000 MW – a deficit that mining companies compensate for by relying on expensive, carbon-intensive diesel generation.

This shortfall is projected to grow to 2 000 MW by the end of the decade, driven by ongoing investments and expansion in mining activities.

Therefore, the Kalumbila-Kolwezi interconnector project aims to resolve this persistent energy challenge by creating a new transmission link between Zambia and the DRC.

The interconnector will connect to the Zambian grid at Kalumbila, leveraging the unsaturated part of the SAPP network, and tie into DRC’s SNEL grid at Kolwezi – a hub of mining activity in southern DRC.

By increasing transmission capacity to 700 MW in its first phase, Germann says the project will provide a vital new channel for energy imports from the SAPP, which will enable mining companies to access power at market prices, representing a substantial cost reduction compared to captive diesel generation.

Further, the project has been designed with proven and tested technologies to ensure reliability, including cross-rope tower designs and stabilisation equipment in substations at Kalumbila and Kolwezi, he adds.

Germann emphasises that the interconnector is customised to meet the specific needs of the mining industry.

“The project will bring stability and cost savings to the DRC mining sector, and will provide access to competitive market prices through the interconnector, which will allow miners to reduce reliance on expensive captive generation and facilitate investment in new projects and expansions.

“This infrastructure will also unlock opportunities for marginal projects that were previously unfeasible due to power constraints,” he elaborates.

The project has received strong backing from key stakeholders, including the governments of the DRC and Zambia.

In a November 2024 press release, DRC Electricity Minister Professor Teddy Lwamba highlighted the importance of the project for the country’s industrial development, saying the Lualaba and Haut Katanga provinces are key contributors to the national economy.

“Providing clean and affordable power to the industry is a priority, and we are pleased with Enpower’s progress in reinforcing our southern power grid in collaboration with SNEL,” he said.

Similarly, Zambia Energy Minister Makozo Chikote described the interconnector as a transformative investment for the region, saying the project will deliver long-term benefits to Zambia, the DRC and the broader Southern African region.

“The government of Zambia remains committed to supporting its development and ensuring its timely implementation,” he stated.

By following SAPP’s open-access rules, the project will allow licensed traders to sign wheeling agreements and sell power directly to mining companies in the DRC. This access to a competitive energy market will make the country’s mining sector more attractive to investors, fostering economic growth and driving further development in Lualaba and Haut Katanga provinces, Germann concludes.