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HCB: Drought Compromises Energy Exports and Could Halt Mining Industry in DRC

HCB: Drought Compromises Energy Exports and Could Halt Mining Industry in DRC

The shortage of hydroelectric power in the country, caused by prolonged drought, is affecting the supply of electricity to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), endangering copper production at the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex, operated by Ivanhoe Mines.

According to Engineering News, the Canadian company warned that the reduction in energy capacity could compromise its production targets for 2025, estimated at between 520,000 and 580,000 tonnes of copper.

The Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (HCB), one of the main energy suppliers in the region, is facing challenges due to low reservoir levels, which has a direct impact on electricity exports to countries like Zambia, which in turn supplies the DRC.

Despite the start of the rainy season, it is not yet possible to determine whether the reservoirs will recover to sufficient levels to guarantee a stable supply throughout the year.

The energy crisis has already led Ivanhoe Mines to consider alternatives to ensure the continuity of its operations, including the possibility of importing energy from Angola. The company has also seen an increase in stored copper reserves, which could mitigate possible impacts on supply to the market if production is affected.

‘Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), one of the main energy suppliers in the region, is facing challenges due to low reservoir levels, which has a direct impact on electricity exports’

In addition to the limited energy supply, Ivanhoe faces other challenges, including a fire that damaged part of the emergency generator at the mining complex, which could delay the start-up of its smelter by up to three months. These factors reinforce uncertainty about its ability to maintain the level of production forecast for 2025.

The recovery of Mozambique’s hydroelectric capacity will be decisive not only for the stability of the region’s energy supply, but also for the competitiveness of the mining industry in the DRC.

If the crisis persists, dependence on alternative sources could increase operating costs and affect the viability of large industrial and mining projects that depend on Mozambican energy.

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