Ivanhoe Energy is advancing its on-site power projects for the Kipushi and Kamoa-Kakula mine sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Kipushi is set to become the world’s fourth-largest zinc producer in 2026, the Canadian mining group said in a 4 June statement.
It achieved a monthly production record of 25,677 tonnes of zinc in concentrate during May.
Year-to-date zinc production totals approximately 110,000 tonnes of zinc, it added.
Annualised, this is equivalent to around the mid-point of the company’s 2026 production guidance range of 240,000 to 290,000 tonnes.
Kipushi is now tendering for a dedicated solar project with up to 200 megawatt hours (MWh) of battery energy storage (BESS).
The facility would provide 10MW of baseload power, reducing reliance on the backup diesel generators that are used intermittently.
The facility is to be located on a 70-hectare site near the mine, and it is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
Construction of Kipushi’s second tailings storage facility expansion is now nearing completion as the mine site expands.
Separately, Ivanhoe Energy recently posted an update on its other major DRC energy project to expand the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex.
Construction of Kamoa-Kakula’s on-site solar (PV) facility, with battery storage, is advancing on schedule, the company reported on 6 May.
The two facilities are expected to be operational, delivering a total baseload of 60MW to the site, from early Q3 2026.
The solar facility is already the largest solar project with battery storage on the African continent.
Kamoa-Kakula is further planning to increase the total on-site solar power generation capacity, with battery storage, to 120MW by the end of 2027.
A tender was awarded, and a power purchase agreement (PPA) was signed in late April for an initial 30MW expansion of the existing on-site solar facilities.
A further 30MW facility is being tendered and is expected to be awarded imminently.
Preparations have also been made across the group to secure on-site diesel supplies in the event of continued global supply chain disruptions.
This includes Kamoa-Kakula securing five months’ worth of diesel supply.
The company reported that its use of backup diesel generators is to be curtailed to rationalise diesel consumption, amid higher fuel prices and supply chain challenges.
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On-site power pivotal to Ivanhoe’s DRC ambitions
Secure on-site power will be critical to DRC mining growth (Image source: Adobe Stock)
