A US-based energy company, Hydro-Link, a subsidiary of Symbion Power, has signed a $1.5 billion agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to build a major transmission line that will power the country’s copper and cobalt mining hub.
The deal aims to tackle DRC’s chronic power shortages, which have long forced mining companies to rely on costly diesel generators.
It also marks a significant step in regional energy integration and growing US interest in Africa’s critical minerals supply chain.
The 1,160-kilometre transmission line will transmit up to 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity from hydropower plants in Angola, including the Lauca facility, to Kolwezi, the heart of DRC’s Copperbelt region.
Once completed, the project is expected to deliver clean and reliable hydroelectric power to industrial users, reducing operational costs and improving energy stability for major mining operations.
The project was signed during the 17th U.S.–Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola.
Background and timeline
In June 2025, Hydro-Link signed an earlier memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Angola’s government to build a 1,150-kilometre transmission line linking both countries.
At the time, the company said the project would promote regional energy integration, strengthen energy security in the DRC, and support industrial hubs for local manufacturing and mineral processing.
The line will stretch from Angola’s Kwanza River to Kolwezi, bringing clean, affordable power to mining operations and nearby communities.
According to Hydro-Link, the power line is scheduled for completion in 2029 and will connect hydropower sites in Angola where surplus capacity exists to DRC’s Copperbelt region, home to major copper and cobalt mines.
Economic impact
The power line will supply electricity to key mining operators, including Glencore Plc and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., both major producers of copper and cobalt minerals essential to the global energy transition.
The DRC accounts for more than 70% of global cobalt production, making stable power supply crucial for maintaining output and expanding mineral processing capacity within the country.
Hydro-Link Chief Executive Officer, Paul Hinks, said the project will boost regional energy integration, support industrial development, and create thousands of local jobs during construction.
In a related development, the Republic of Congo launched a $100 million Electricity Services Improvement Project (PASEL), funded by the World Bank, to upgrade its national grid and improve power delivery to the capital, Brazzaville.
Regional and strategic importance
The transmission line will run from Angola’s Kwanza River to Kolwezi in southern DRC, linking surplus hydropower from Angola’s grid to DRC’s mining sector.
It is expected to enhance energy security, industrialization, and local manufacturing across both nations.
Hydro-Link also signed a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitrelli Group, a Swiss-based company and key investor in Angola, to support project delivery and financing.
According to Hydro-Link, the line is scheduled for completion in 2029, with construction expected to generate thousands of jobs and provide affordable electricity to communities and industries along the route.
