Electricity - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Zambia and Mozambique Strengthen Power Collaboration to Address Electricity Deficit 1

Zambia and Mozambique have enhanced their partnership to tackle Zambia’s electricity shortfall by finalizing an agreement for additional power imports on Thursday last week. Under the agreement, signed by Zambia’s Zesco Limited and Mozambique’s state-owned energy firm, Mozambique Electricity (EDM), Zambia will now import an extra 40 megawatts of power, supplementing the existing 50 megawatts from a previous deal. This raises the total import capacity to 90 megawatts, effective until June 30, 2025. Victor Mapani, Zesco’s managing director, praised the amended agreement as evidence of the strong collaboration between the… Read More Here

International Electricity

Mozambique: EDM loses over 78 million dollars from vandalization and illegal connections

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 Constance

Mozambique’s publicly-owned electricity company, EDM, has recorded, over the last year, a financial loss of five billion meticais (78.3 million dollars at the current exchange rate) as a result of damage of equipment by criminals across the country, as well as illegal connections. According to EDM Executive Director, Noel Govene, who was speaking recently at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between EDM and the Institute for Scholarships (IBE), “in 2023 alone, EDM recorded losses of around five billion Meticais, an amount that could have been used to… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity Energy

World Bank’s $100M Grant to ZESCO Drives Zambian Energy Reforms

March 21, 2024March 21, 2024 Constance

Energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda asserts that the disbursement of a $100 million grant to Zambia, allocated for ZESCO Limited by the World Bank, will accelerate ongoing energy sector reforms aimed at enhancing access to sustainable clean energy. Dr. Chikwanda emphasizes that Zambia, as a signatory to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 7, stands to benefit significantly from this support as it strives to achieve universal access to clean energy by 2030. He underscores the timeliness of the disbursement, noting the government’s unprecedented efforts to diversify the electricity generation mix.… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity Energy News in Brief

ZESCO Negotiates Increased Electricity Imports from Mozambique

March 18, 2024March 18, 2024 Constance

Zambian Energy Minister Peter Kapala announced negotiations between ZESCO and Mozambique’s EDM to increase electricity imports to 120 MW. Currently, Zambia imports 50 to 90 MW from Mozambique and plans to boost it to meet demand. This move, however, will result in a revenue loss of $110 million. Last October, EDM agreed to resume electricity sales to Zambia under a contract potentially reaching 250 MW. The agreement includes firm sales of 50 MW during off-peak hours and an additional 200 MW on a non-firm basis. Additionally, both parties renewed an… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Electricity

Chambishi Copper Smelter Reduces Production Amid Power Shortages

March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 Constance

Zambia’s Chambishi Copper Smelter, owned by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Corp (CNMC), has cut one-fifth of its production due to severe power shortages in the country. The smelter, a key processing facility in Zambia, typically produces 250,000 tonnes of copper annually. However, ongoing droughts and maintenance projects by state-owned power utility Zesco have led to reduced electricity supply, prompting Chambishi to scale back capacity. Sources indicate that Chambishi began reducing production last week, anticipating power rationing announced by Zesco starting March 11. To address concerns about power security during shortages,… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity Energy

Zambia Develops Plans to Address Electricity Needs Amid Drought Threat to Hydropower

March 3, 2024March 3, 2024 Constance

Zambia has developed strategies to import and manage electricity as a severe drought threatens to impact hydropower generation, the nation’s primary power source, as reported by Reuters. The ongoing dry spell, declared a national disaster, is anticipated to negatively affect food production and could have repercussions on the mining sector, a vital component of Zambia’s economy as the second-largest copper producer in Africa. President Hichilema highlighted that the energy sector is projected to face a deficit of nearly 450 to over 500 megawatts this year due to the prolonged dry… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Copper Electricity

FQM AND ZESCO IN TALKS TO IMPROVE NATIONAL GRID EFFICIENCY

February 16, 2024February 16, 2024 Constance

Stabilisation of the national power grid is a prerequisite to increasing Zambia’s copper production to 3 million tonnes a year, says First Quantum Minerals (FQM). The need to ensure that power is available ahead of new mine production, and that this power is efficiently transmitted through the national grid cannot be over emphasised, said the company. The message came as the country’s largest power user hosted engineers from ZESCO this week at its Trident mine in Kalumbila as part of on-going discussions to improve the efficiency of the nation’s power… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity Gold Press Release

Kibali Gold Mine Sets Benchmark for Sustainable and Automated Mining

January 31, 2024January 31, 2024 Constance

KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Kibali, the largest gold mine in Africa, is now also one of the greenest mines on the African continent, Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow told media at a briefing on Monday January 29th. Much of the electricity that drives Kibali is already supplied by its three hydropower stations. Once the mine’s new 16 megawatt solar plant and additional battery energy storage infrastructure, designed to back up the hydropower supply during the region’s dry season, are commissioned, it is expected the mine’s overall renewable electricity… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Electricity

Trafo Power Solutions Delivers 40+ Substations to Kamoa Copper

January 17, 2024January 17, 2024 Constance

Trafo Power Solutions says it has supplied 40 dry-type mini-substations, as well as seven standalone ring main units, to Kamoa Copper SA, one of the Africa’s largest and fastest growing copper operations, situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kamoa Copper is the operator of the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex. “We are immensely proud to be involved in this mega project,” says David Claassen, Managing Director at Trafo Power Solutions. “Considerable design work and planning went into this contract, with very demanding lead times to keep up with the mine’s rapid… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Copper Electricity Mining in Zambia

Affirma Capital Invests $145 Million to Boost Power Supply for Copper Mines in DRC and Zambia

January 11, 2024January 11, 2024 Constance

(Agence Ecofin) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia are the two leading copper producers in Africa. While the electricity supply for mines remains a challenge in these two countries, the investment announced by Affirma Capital can contribute to improving the situation. On January 8, Affirma Capital, the former private equity branch of Standard Bank, announced a $145 million investment in the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC). With a $50 million contribution from Standard Bank of South Africa, this investment will be used to enhance access to electricity for… Read More Here