CMOC Deploys 623MWp Solar Capacity and 1.8GWh Battery Storage in DRC
CMOC Develops 623MWp Solar and 1.8GWh Battery Storage System to Power DRC Copper and Cobalt Mines
Chinese mining company CMOC is developing a large integrated renewable energy system around its Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) and Kisanfu (KFM) operations in Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, as it seeks to strengthen electricity supply for its expanding copper and cobalt operations.
The project includes 623MWp of solar photovoltaic capacity and a battery energy storage system rated at 488MW with 1,800MWh of storage capacity.
The development also includes three new 220kV substations, upgrades to four existing substations and approximately 116 kilometres of new transmission lines.
The integrated system is designed to combine solar generation, battery storage and high-voltage infrastructure to provide a more reliable power supply to CMOC’s mining operations.
Battery storage will allow electricity generated during periods of strong solar production to be stored and dispatched when solar output falls.
This will help improve the stability of power supplied to the mines and reduce exposure to fluctuations in the wider electricity system.
The investment comes as CMOC expands its copper and cobalt production in the DRC. Reliable electricity is increasingly important for the company as it increases processing capacity and seeks to maintain consistent production at its major mining complexes.
CMOC is also advancing the 200MW N’zilo II hydropower project in Lualaba, which is expected to further strengthen long-term electricity supply and increase the share of renewable energy supporting its operations.
The company’s growing investment in dedicated energy infrastructure reflects the increasing importance of power security to the DRC’s mining sector.
Copper and cobalt operations require large and consistent amounts of electricity for extraction, processing, pumping and other industrial activities.
For CMOC, combining solar, battery storage and hydropower could provide a more diversified energy portfolio while reducing dependence on conventional power sources.
The development also highlights the broader shift among African mining companies toward integrating renewable energy into large-scale industrial operations.
