Ivanhoe Mines said its Kamoa-Kakula joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed an agreement with the country's power company, La Societe Nationale d 'Electricite (SNEL), to upgrade one of the main turbines at the Inga II hydroelectric power plant.
The deal with state-owned SNEL will help Ivanhoe produce clean, renewable electricity to support the copper project's expansion plans and provide reliable electricity to the local community.
Ben Munanga, chairman of Kamoa Copper, said: "The Democratic Republic of Congo has extraordinary hydroelectric potential.
This potential must be tapped because hydropower is clean, reliable and renewable.
"There is no question that this is the most appropriate type of electricity to support long-term development priorities."
Under the new power supply agreement, Kamoa-Kakula will receive priority access to a total of 240 megawatts of clean power from the upgraded turbines of the Mwadingusha and Inga II hydropower stations, Mnanga said.
The 40-year-old Inga II hydroelectric dam is located on the Congo River in southwestern Congo.
The Congo River is the deepest river in the world and the second longest river in Egypt after the Nile. It is also the only major river that crosses the Equator twice. Its rapids and waterfalls give it great hydroelectric potential.
Kamoa-Kakula is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Congolese government (20%).
