Electricity - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

DRC’s SNEL Utility Faces $3 Billion Debt Crisis as Restructuring Plan Takes Shape 1

Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL), the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) state-owned power utility, is burdened with a debt exceeding $3 billion—more than three times its 2022 sales, according to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) recent Compact Énergétique National report. The debt is comprised of financial obligations (over 75%), commercial debt (13%), tax liabilities (11%), and social debt (0.3%). Financial debt alone surpasses $2 billion, stemming primarily from mining contracts (42%) and loans from multilateral investment banks (58%). In response, the Congolese government is committed to restructuring SNEL’s commercial and financial… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity Hydro power plant

Kasaï-Central’s Mbombo Hydropower Station Construction Begins

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance0 comment

The highly anticipated Mbombo hydropower station project has officially begun. Construction was launched on February 15, 2025, by Joseph Moïse Kambulu Nkonko, governor of Kasaï-Central province, where the station will be located. The plant, situated on the Lulua River about 9.3 miles (15 km) from downtown Kananga, will have an installed capacity of 10 MW. This project is expected to bring electricity to more people in the region. However, the number of direct and indirect jobs it will create, as well as the total number of beneficiaries, has yet to… Read More Here

Electricity

Lake Kariba Water Levels Remain Low, Highlighting Power Generation Challenges in Zimbabwe

February 23, 2025February 23, 2025 Constance0 comment

Water levels at Lake Kariba have been gradually rising due to the ongoing rainy season, raising hopes for improved hydropower generation later this year. However, the current levels remain significantly lower than those of the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA). As of Monday, the water level stood at 476.41 meters, compared to 477.84 meters at the same time last year. The Kariba Dam operates within a water level range of 475.50 meters to 488.50 meters, with usable live storage—critical for… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity

ZESCO Signs Power Purchase Agreements with IPPs to Boost Solar Capacity

February 23, 2025February 23, 2025 Constance0 comment

ZESCO, Zambia’s state-owned electricity company, has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with 28 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) under the Micro-Generator Scheme and the Presidential Solar Initiative. The agreements will add 270 megawatts (MW) of solar power to the national grid. At the signing ceremony, Energy Minister Hon. Makozo Chikote emphasized the government’s commitment to development, stating, “Under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, we are delivering development, not just talking about it. This initiative will power industries, create jobs, and drive economic growth, showing that the UPND government is serious about transforming… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Angola Electricity

Congo-DRC-Angola Power Line Set for 2025 Launch

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025 Constance0 comment

The European Union (EU) will commission a 1,400 kV power transmission project in 2025, linking the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Angola. Known as the Boucle de l’Amitié Énergétique, this initiative aims to address chronic electricity shortages, enhance regional energy security, and support economic development. Electricity access in the Republic of Congo remains limited, with only 68% of urban areas and 12% of rural areas connected to the grid. The country’s primary power source, the Centrale Électrique du Congo in Pointe-Noire, is currently facing reduced… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity Energy Events & Expos

President Hichilema Focuses on Solar Energy and Electricity Solutions at Africa Energy Summit

January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 Constance

President Hakainde Hichilema has stated that Zambia is on track to addressing its electricity challenges. He emphasized that the government is working diligently to reduce reliance on hydropower by investing in solar energy. While drought poses a challenge, President Hichilema views it as an opportunity to redirect resources into investments like electricity. He made these comments to journalists at the Zambia Air Force Base, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, before departing for Tanzania to attend the 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam on January 28, 2025. The summit, he… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Economy Electricity

World Bank Approves $292 Million for Zambia-Tanzania Power Interconnector

January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 Constance

The World Bank has approved a $292 million grant to support the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector Project (ZTIP), designed to tackle key challenges in the energy sector and enhance regional power transmission. Of the total financing, $245 million comes from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with additional funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), contributing $17 million, and $30 million from the European Union. Achim Fock, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia, emphasized the project’s importance in addressing Zambia’s significant energy sector challenges. He pointed out that… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Corporate News Electricity

Jubilee Metals Secures New Power Supply Agreement in Zambia for Stable Operations

January 23, 2025January 23, 2025 Constance

London- and Johannesburg-listed Jubilee Metals has successfully secured regulatory approval for a new power supply agreement in Zambia, with power delivery commencing on January 20. This agreement enables the company to restart its Roan concentrator, ensuring a stable power supply moving forward. The new power supply agreement, executed with a broad-based power provider, grants Jubilee access to a distributed power base from multiple generation sources. This reduces reliance on a single supply source and mitigates risks associated with localized power distribution limitations. Jubilee highlights that the additional power supply is… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Corporate News Electricity

Jubilee Metals Faces Copper Production Setback in Zambia Due to Power Constraints

January 13, 2025January 13, 2025 Constance

Jubilee Metals Group, a diversified metals producer listed on Aim and AltX, reported a shortfall in copper production at its Roan operation in Zambia due to power constraints. In its operational update for the six months ending December 31, which marks the first half of its 2025 financial year, the company revealed that copper production in Zambia totaled 1,454 tonnes, down from 1,683 tonnes during the same period in the 2024 financial year. The figure also fell short of the revised target of 1,800 tonnes. Despite this, Jubilee reported a… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity

COMILU Granted Eligible Customer Status by DRC Electricity Authority

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 Constance

On December 23, 2024, Sandrine Mubenga Ngalula, the Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ARE) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced that the Luisha Mining Company (COMILU), based in Lualaba province, had been granted “eligible customer” status. This status was officially confirmed during a compliance notice presentation to the company’s delegation, led by Li, the head of COMILU. In an unusual move, the eligibility status was conferred directly by the Director General of ARE, rather than through the customary ministerial decree from the Minister of Water Resources… Read More Here