DR Congo takes stake in Zambia cross-border power line
Updated
Updated · Semafor · May 6
DR Congo takes stake in Zambia cross-border power line
5 articles · Updated · Semafor · May 6
The 200km link from Kalumbila to Kolwezi is planned at 460MW initially, expandable to 550MW, with Enterprise Power DRC developing the $270 million project.
Kinshasa tied the investment to its post-eurobond infrastructure push as miners facing acute shortages increasingly use diesel and add power-hungry local processing such as smelting.
Congo’s power deficit exceeds 5,000MW, including about 900MW for southern mining, while longer-term relief is expected from the delayed Inga III hydropower project.
Can a new power line finally help DR Congo break its crippling resource curse?
With new power and export quotas, is DR Congo seizing control of the green economy?
Bridging the DRC Mining Energy Deficit: The $270M Zambia-DRC Interconnector and 222 MW Solar Breakthrough
Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the world's second-largest copper producer, faces a severe energy deficit exceeding 5,000 MW, with mining operations in the south requiring 900 MW. This shortage forces mining companies to rely on costly diesel generators, raising operational costs. To address this, Zambia approved the $270-million Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnector Project (KKIP), while the private Kamoa-Kakula solar and battery project began construction in August 2025, aiming for operation by mid-2026 to provide cleaner, reliable power and reduce emissions. Meanwhile, long-term efforts include renewed Inga III hydropower negotiations and institutional reforms, targeting construction between 2028 and 2032, supported by World Bank funding. These initiatives reflect the DRC government's vision to secure reliable energy for economic growth and mineral processing.