Electricity - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Zambia Approves Cross-Border Power Line to DRC Amid Growing Mining Demand

May 9, 2025May 9, 2025 Constance

Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board has approved the Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnection Project (KKIP), paving the way for a new 330 kV high-voltage transmission line linking Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The approval, granted on May 6, 2025, marks a major milestone in the development of the 190-kilometre project. Led by Enterprise Power DRC (Enpower), a private electricity trading firm, the KKIP has been in development for several years. While Zambia’s greenlight is a key step forward, the project is still awaiting approval from the DRC’s electricity regulator. Comprehensive feasibility… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity

ZESCO Accelerates Solar Expansion with 500 MW Boost to the National Grid

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 Constance

ZESCO has announced plans to add approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of solar-generated electricity to Zambia’s national grid to help address the country’s energy deficit. Of this target, 134 MW are expected to come online within the next three months. ZESCO Managing Director Justin Longo explained that the move is necessary to mitigate the impact of reduced hydroelectric generation caused by drought conditions. Mr. Longo outlined several key projects: Chisamba will contribute 100 MW, Mansa 25 MW, Kasupe 7.5 MW, and Shangombo 2 MW. In addition, the micro-generator scheme and the… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity

Zambia and Tanzania Launch Cross-Border Power Project to Boost Regional Energy Integration

April 20, 2025April 20, 2025 Constance

Zambia and Tanzania have officially launched the Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector Project (ZTIP), a landmark cross-border energy initiative aimed at enhancing regional electricity trade, energy security, and industrial growth. The launch ceremony was held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka. ZTIP forms part of the broader Zambia–Tanzania–Kenya (ZTK) power interconnection project. Once completed, it will link the national electricity grids of Zambia and Tanzania, enabling the two-way flow of electricity between the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP). Speaking on behalf of Zambia’s Minister… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Electricity

ZESCO Confident in Power Supply Stability as Local Generation Improves

April 19, 2025April 19, 2025 Constance

The Senior Manager of ZESCO’s Lusaka Control Centre, Boniface Syasipa, has welcomed recent improvements in local power generation, describing them as crucial to delivering a more reliable electricity supply to households and businesses across Zambia. Speaking to ZESCO’s in-house media on April 16, Syasipa emphasized that the state-owned utility—responsible for generating about 80% of the country’s electricity—had become more predictable thanks to increased local production. He cited last year’s drought as a key factor that had forced the country to rely more heavily on electricity imports, contributing to supply disruptions.… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity

DRC Power Output Grows but Energy Challenges Persist

April 5, 2025April 5, 2025 Constance

Between 2023 and 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) saw a 3.04% increase in power output, rising by 303.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh). This boost was primarily driven by hydropower plants, including the Inga I and II plants, according to the country’s power utility, the ARE. Over the period from 2020 to 2024, the DRC’s power output grew by 9.8%. However, despite this progress, the DRC’s total electricity output remains low, reaching just 13.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024. To put this into perspective, it is equivalent to roughly 11 days of… Read More Here

Electricity International

Tanzania Seeks to Import 100MW of Ethiopian Power via Kenya

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 Constance

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has confirmed receiving an application from Tanzania to import 100 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia using Kenya’s transmission network. EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo stated that the request involves a collaboration between Ethiopia Electric Power, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), and Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO). He added that the application is under review, with a final decision expected by the end of March after evaluating its technical and economic feasibility. “We are currently assessing both the technical and economic aspects. The… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity

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

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

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 Constance

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 Constance

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 Constance

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