Global commodities giant Trafigura backs out of Angola's 2,000 MW power project meant to power DRC and Zambia's copper and cobalt mines

Trafigura has withdrawn from a proposed 2,000-megawatt (MW) power transmission project that was expected to transport surplus hydropower from Angola to energy-hungry copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.

• Trafigura has withdrawn from a planned 2,000 MW power transmission project to deliver Angolan hydropower to mines in the DRC and Zambia.
• The project, announced in July 2024, aimed to address persistent electricity shortages for the region's copper and cobalt mining sectors.
• Angolan government sources confirm Trafigura's exit but say talks continue with other interested companies, leaving the project's future uncertain.
• Other regional power projects are moving forward, including Meridia Energy's two transmission lines to connect Angola with the DRC and the Southern African Power Pool.

Trafigura has withdrawn from a proposed 2,000-megawatt (MW) power transmission project that was expected to transport surplus hydropower from Angola to energy-hungry copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, Reuters reported.

The project, announced in July 2024 through a non-binding agreement between Trafigura, engineering firm ProMarks, and the Angolan government, was intended to unlock Angola's abundant but underutilised hydropower resources while addressing chronic electricity shortages affecting mining operations in Central and Southern Africa.

Project in limbo

One industry source said Trafigura had "abandoned the project," while a second source within the Angolan government confirmed the company's withdrawal, adding that discussions are continuing with changes to the consortium of companies interested in implementing the project.

Angola's Ministry of Energy and Water has yet to comment, leaving uncertainty over whether the government will proceed with the initiative. Trafigura, a key member of the Lobito Corridor railway consortium that transports critical minerals from the DRC to global markets, declined to comment.

Despite the setback, other major cross-border electricity projects are advancing. Meridia Energy, a joint venture between Dubai-based Averi Finance and Morocco's Somagec, is developing two transmission lines that will connect Angola's national grid to Kolwezi, the DRC's key copper and cobalt mining hub, while also strengthening Angola's domestic grid and linking the country to the Southern African Power Pool.

The projects include the $450 million Soyo–Inga–Cabinda transmission line, capable of delivering up to 800 MW, and the $1.25 billion Lauca–Kolwezi line, with a capacity of 1,400 MW. According to Averi, both are targeted for commercial operation by 2030.

Meanwhile, U.S.-based HYDRO-LINK is pursuing a separate $1.5 billion interconnector between Angola and the DRC. The 1,200-kilometre project is expected to supply reliable, low-cost electricity to the DRC's Lualaba and Katanga mining provinces, reinforcing regional energy infrastructure critical to Africa's expanding minerals industry.