The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced an agreement with Anzana Electric Group to fund power infrastructure along the Lobito Corridor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
USTDA’s Deputy Director Thomas R. Hardy says reliable power is necessary for mines to operate and businesses and communities to thrive.
“USTDA’s investment will help … strengthen the mineral supply chains America’s security and economy depend on, while building the power systems our partners in the DRC and Zambia need to grow,” Hardy says.
The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300km-long transport and railway network linking the Atlantic Ocean port of Lobito, Angola, to the mining areas of the DRC and Zambia. The network enables direct transport of the region’s copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals to overseas markets through the port.
USTDA is funding a Feasibility Study to assess the region’s power generation infrastructure and the rehabilitation of existing hydropower; the development of new hydropower; and the expansion of electricity distribution infrastructure needed to power the mining operations that feed the corridor.
The agency notes that reliable power is a critical challenge in these countries and that mining activity can often consume most of the available power, leaving communities underserved.
As such, the project seeks to bring new power connections to the communities while also enabling the mining industry.
Anzana Electric CEO Brian Kelly says that the countries along the corridor have the opportunity to create long-term value from their critical mineral wealth.
“Realising that ambition depends on reliable electricity, which underpins industrialisation, drives local value addition, creates jobs, and strengthens economies,” Kelly says.
“Anzana’s win-win approach to infrastructure development brings together public and private partners to identify investment opportunities that advance national development priorities while strengthening strategic supply chains.”
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Main image: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
