Energy

Kamoa-Kakula moves to cleaner energy supply (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The ramp up of on-site solar power facilities in September reduced on-site diesel generator consumption at the Kamoa-Kakula mine site in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by approximately 40%, Ivanhoe Mines reported in an October update

It follows the extension of Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site hybrid solar power facilities, integrated with battery energy storage (BESS), which are now fully operational, supplying 60 MW of continuous baseload power to mining operations (Ivanhoe Mines expands solar power at Kamoa-Kakula)

“At the end of the second quarter, approximately 50% of on-site diesel consumption was consumed by the on-site back-up diesel-powered generators,” Ivanhoe Mines said in an 8th October update.

It also added that the generators are more reliable than grid power for maintaining pumping operations across the complex.

A huge dewatering operation at the mine site involving multiple submersible pumps from China’s Hefei Hengda Jianghai Pump Co. Ltd, required power from a separate, dedicated 20 MW generator, primarily to minimise disruption risk from the electrical grid.

With the on-site hybrid solar facility now complete, and dewatering activities now at an advanced stage, the reliance on the backup diesel generators is expected to decrease significantly.

The Kamoa-Kakula hybrid solar facility ramped up to full capacity on September 23.

“Compared with July, on-site generator diesel consumption fell by 40% in September,” Ivanhoe Mines reported.

“Diesel consumption is expected to fall further in the fourth quarter.”

Eight African nations to benefit from UK-backed energy projects. (Image source: HornDiplomat)

The UK government is supporting more than £2mn (approxim. US$2.7mn) in investment for 10 clean-energy projects across eight African countries, with the aim of reducing reliance on diesel generators used by hospitals, telecommunications networks, agricultural businesses and small enterprises

The projects, announced by the Zero Emission Generators initiative (ZE-Gen), will be implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Nigeria, Mozambique and Lesotho. The programme is supported by the UK government’s Ayrton Fund through the Transforming Energy Access platform and aims to help businesses advance renewable-energy technologies beyond pilot stages towards wider commercial deployment.

In Kenya, planned installations will combine solar power and battery storage to improve electricity supplies for hospitals, schools and businesses affected by unreliable grid connections. University of Oxford spin-out SHIELD will partner with a major Kenyan hospital to replace diesel-powered generation with a solar and battery system. The project will also assess financing approaches intended to lower costs and encourage additional investment.

In Uganda, British battery manufacturer AceOn will introduce battery-first energy systems, including sodium-ion technology, for telecommunications infrastructure, healthcare facilities and humanitarian operations.

Agriculture and food distribution are the focus of two Nigerian projects. Farm Warehouse plans to install 100 solar-powered cold-storage systems for vendors selling fish, meat and dairy products. KAMIM Technologies will establish four solar-powered agricultural hubs equipped with irrigation, cold storage, ice production and grain-processing facilities.

In Mozambique, renewable-powered fishing hubs will combine solar generation, battery storage and cold-chain technologies. Rwanda’s projects will explore the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries for stationary energy storage.

Additional initiatives will support rural enterprises in Uganda and Tanzania, community electrification in Madagascar and battery storage for mini-grids in Lesotho.

“These ZE-Gen supported projects show how clean energy can power the services and businesses people rely on every day – from hospitals and telecommunications networks to food systems and local enterprises,” ZE-Gen programme director Lily Beadle said.

“The next challenge is scaling the most successful approaches,” she added.

According to ZE-Gen, the projects will demonstrate how renewable-energy systems can deliver more reliable and affordable electricity while reducing dependence on fossil-fuel generators in locations where grid infrastructure is weak or electricity supplies are inconsistent.

Launched at the COP27 climate summit, ZE-Gen is led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK. The initiative aims to mobilise £100mn to accelerate the transition from fossil-fuel generators to renewable-energy alternatives.

Kamoa-Kakula solar project delivers 60 MW of continuous power. (Image source: Ivanhoe Mines)

Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site hybrid solar power facilities, integrated with battery energy storage, are now fully operational, supplying 60 MW of continuous baseload power to its mining operations

The combined capacity is set to double to 120 MW within 18 months under plans supported by two additional power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Construction and commissioning of the two solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities and their battery energy storage system (BESS) were completed during the third quarter of 2026. By the end of September, both facilities had reached their combined nameplate capacity. Construction of the two 30-MW facilities began in June 2025, with the first starting power deliveries in August 2026 and the second becoming operational in late September. CrossBoundary Energy and Green World Energie own, operate and fund the facilities.

The installation comprises a 433-MW-peak PV facility and an adjacent battery storage system with a capacity of 1,107 MWh. The stored solar energy enables the system to supply Kamoa-Kakula, its sole offtaker, with 60 MW of power continuously over 24 hours. The installation is the largest hybrid solar PV and battery storage facility at a mining operation in Africa.

Kamoa-Kakula plans to increase its on-site hybrid solar capacity to 120 MW within 18 months. In April 2026, it awarded a contract to Green World Energie and signed a PPA for an additional 30 MW. In August 2026, it awarded a further contract and signed another 30-MW PPA with Lualaba Solar Company. Both facilities are planned for construction within Kamoa-Kakula’s joint-venture licence area.

Kruger National Park secures renewable energy equivalent to over 25% of annual electricity use through an Ampli Energy sponsorship. (Image source: Kruger National Park)

Kruger National Park is SANParks’ largest electricity user, accounting for approximately 70% of the organisation’s Scope 2 emissions. Electricity demand is also increasing, with the park welcoming more than 1.8 million visitors in 2025

Developing large-scale renewable energy generation within the park would require substantial capital investment and land. SANParks has prioritised conserving its land rather than using it for energy generation.

Changes in South Africa’s electricity market have created an alternative approach, allowing renewable energy to be generated at suitable locations and delivered through the electricity network to consumers elsewhere.

Dr Sarushen Pillay, executive vice-president: Business Building, Strategy and Technology, said, “Ampli Energy is demonstrating how South Africa’s industrial base can be a catalyst for both energy security and the energy transition. By using our Secunda complex as the backstop oRtaker for Ampli’s renewable energy portfolio, we are accelerating decarbonisation across our business while helping SANParks and other organisations do the same. With its scale and energy demand profile, Secunda is a cornerstone of South Africa’s energy system, showing how the country’s largest industrial assets can support both energy security and the transition. We are excited to see Ampli bringing to life the vision we share with Discovery Green: making renewable energy accessible at scale and helping organisations such as SANParks achieve their sustainability goals.”

The partnership is already operational. Through Ampli, Discovery Green and Sasol have supplied renewable energy equivalent to more than 25% of Kruger National Park’s electricity consumption over the past few months.

Hapiloe Sello, SANParks CEO, said the arrangement forms part of a wider strategy to modernise infrastructure and strengthen resilience.

“Kruger National Park is not only South Africa’s premier tourism destination, but also a cornerstone of conservation in our country and across the SANParks system. By securing renewable energy equivalent to more than 25% of the park’s annual electricity consumption, we are strengthening the park’s long-term sustainability, improving energy resilience and demonstrating how conservation institutions can contribute meaningfully to a lower-carbon future,” she said.

A partnership for the next century

The agreement is expected to help SANParks progressively reduce emissions associated with its electricity consumption while allowing the organisation to maintain its focus on conservation.

Andre Nepgen, CEO of Discovery Green, stated, “We deeply value our partnership with SANParks. Through Ampli Energy, we are sponsoring the park with renewable energy in a way that supports the economic and environmental health of South Africa. This contribution supports SANParks’ mission to conserve, expand and sustainably manage the country’s natural and cultural assets for current and future generations.”

The initiative also supports Kruger National Park’s position as a nature-based tourism destination. Sello said, “Today’s travellers increasingly seek destinations that demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility. By integrating renewable energy into park operations, Kruger National Park strengthens its ability to combine exceptional visitor experiences with responsible environmental management.”

Nepgen concluded, “It is a privilege to apply our data-led approach to renewable energy in partnership with Sasol through Ampli Energy to support an iconic South African institution. We are proud to help power KNP’s next 100 years.”