Greenco, SafiriPower Partner on DR Congo Solar Project

Renewable energy trader Africa Greenco Group and independent power producer (IPP) SafiriPower have partnered to develop a 50-megawatt (MW) solar power project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), targeting improved electricity supply for the country's energy-intensive mining sector.

The companies signed a joint development agreement for the project during the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, marking another step towards expanding renewable energy generation in one of Africa's most mineral-rich economies.

The proposed solar farm will be built in Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba Province and the centre of the DRC's copper and cobalt mining industry. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2028.

The project comes as the DRC continues to grapple with electricity shortages that constrain mining operations, industrial growth and broader economic development despite the country's vast renewable energy potential.

Under the agreement, SafiriPower will lead project development after originating the initiative, while Africa Greenco will focus on making the project financially viable by securing the commercial arrangements needed to attract investment.

Central to that effort is the negotiation of a wheeling agreement with the state-owned transmission operator, Société Nationale d'Electricité (SNEL). A wheeling agreement allows electricity generated at one location to be transmitted through an existing power grid for delivery to customers elsewhere, enabling independent producers to sell power without building separate transmission infrastructure.

Unlike captive power plants built solely for a single industrial customer, the project will operate under a broader commercial model. Africa Greenco will purchase electricity generated by the solar facility and supply it to mining companies and other industrial consumers through long-term power sales agreements.

The companies said the arrangement is designed to provide predictable revenue streams that will support the project's financial close while improving access to reliable electricity for large energy users.

Supporting cleaner industrial growth

The developers said the project will help reduce pressure on the country's electricity network by increasing domestic renewable generation while supporting industrial production in the mining region.

The DRC is one of the world's leading producers of copper and cobalt, minerals that are critical to electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies and the global energy transition. However, persistent electricity shortages have remained a major challenge for mining operations and new investments.

By adding solar generation to the country's energy mix, the project is expected to strengthen electricity supply, reduce dependence on conventional power sources and support the DRC's broader efforts to expand clean energy infrastructure.