Ivanhoe Mines’ Executive Chairman Robert Friedland and Chief Executive Officer Lars-Eric Johansson recently announced that ongoing upgrading work financed by the company at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant has begun supplying an initial 11 MW of power to the national grid in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The upgrading – part of a program planned to eventually overhaul and boost output from a total of three hydropower plants – is being conducted by Ivanhoe Mines and its joint-venture partner, Zijin Mining Group, in conjunction with the DRC’s state-owned power company, La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL).
At Mwadingusha, electricity now is being produced by the No 1 turbine generator, the first of six installed at the dam’s power plant that are being upgraded and modernised. It is the first step in a program based on an initial 2011 memorandum of understanding, and subsequent 2014 agreement, between Ivanhoe and SNEL.
The Mwadingusha plant originally was commissioned in 1930. Completion of the full upgrading and modernization of Mwadingusha’s five other generating units that now is underway is expected to restore Mwadingusha to its installed output capacity of approximately 71 MW of power for the national grid. The upgrading work is being undertaken by a partnership between SNEL and Ivanhoe Mines Energy DRC, a subsidiary of Kamoa Holding Ltd.
A ceremony was held marking the resumption of output from the first generator was attended by prominent officials, including the Governor of Haut-Katanga Province, Jean-Claude Kazembe Musonda; Haut-Katanga’s Minister of Mines, Professor Willy Kitobo Samsoni; and members of the senior managements of SNEL and Ivanhoe Mines.
Friedland said a dependable power supply is essential to planned production at Kamoa. “This first installation of modern power generating equipment at Mwadingusha is an important milestone in helping to secure long-term, sustainable and clean electricity for the Congolese people and for the development of our major, new copper mine at Kamoa. Mining and the supply of reliable energy are inseparable and we are committed to implementing energy-efficiency measures and supporting cost-effective ways of generating clean energy. Hydropower, with the virtues of being clean and renewable, is among the best energy solutions for our industry living with the realities of climate change.”
Governor Musonda said Mwadingusha will help to address the DRC’s electricity-supply deficit. “Today, thanks to the private-public partnership supported by the DRC government, Ivanhoe Mines and SNEL have added additional megawatts to the national electricity grid. I urge SNEL to make sure that these additional megawatts are distributed in an appropriate manner to the targeted end users.”
Minister Samsoni also complimented Ivanhoe, suggesting its initiative could be a model for other businesses. “The provincial government will continue to support Ivanhoe Mines in the work it is doing with SNEL to successfully implement all the other projects it has in the DRC. Ivanhoe must be supported in its effort and used as an example for other companies to join in partnering with SNEL to solve the existing electricity problem in the DRC.”
The DRC Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Energy, Matadi Manga Gamanda, said that Ivanhoe Mines can count on the support of the Ministry to continue to address the deficit in electricity in the DRC. “We are very pleased with the private-public partnership between SNEL and Ivanhoe Mines. The electricity sector here has been privatised and it opens the door for other investors and companies to produce, transport and sell electricity in the DRC.”
