Watch Out: Large Traders to Deliver Copper to LME Soon?

CrossBoundary Energy’s solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system serving the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo reached commercial operation on August 12, 2026, and is now supplying 30 MW of continuous baseload power to Kamoa Copper. The milestone comes 16 months after Kamoa Copper signed a power purchase agreement with CrossBoundary Energy in April 2025, marking the transition of the project from commissioning into commercial operation.​ The facility comprises 233 MWp of solar photovoltaic capacity and a 123 MVA/526 MWh battery energy storage system, designed to provide at least 30 MW of firm power to the mining complex. The battery system allows electricity generated during daylight hours to be stored and dispatched when solar generation falls, enabling the project to provide continuous power rather than intermittent daytime supply. CrossBoundary Energy said the project is the first operational solar-plus-battery facility of its type and scale in Africa to provide baseload power.​ The new power supply forms part of Kamoa-Kakula’s broader efforts to strengthen electricity reliability at the operation. Kamoa Copper, which is jointly owned by Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group and the DRC government, has been developing additional solar and battery capacity alongside upgrades to the DRC grid as it seeks to reduce exposure to power interruptions and reliance on diesel-generated electricity.​ The start of commercial operations represents a meaningful power-supply milestone for Kamoa-Kakula, where electricity reliability remains important to maintaining stable mining and processing operations. The new 30 MW firm renewable supplyshould provide an additional source of continuous power alongside existing grid and backup generation, while reducing reliance on diesel. The development is particularly relevant as Kamoa-Kakula continues to manage operational and infrastructure constraints, making improved power availability an important factor in supporting more stable copper production.

[SMM Analysis: opper Concentrate Tightness Spreads to Scrap Market—Why Are Copper Scrap Prices Staying High?] Tight copper concentrate supply and deeply negative TCs are pushing smelters and fabricators toward recycled feedstock. Low global inventories, slow scrap generation and shortages of compliant material in China are supporting high payabilities. SMM expects import demand to remain firm, although any release of accumulated tax-excluded scrap in China could pressure prices.

Sinomine Resource Group (002738.SZ) reported further construction progress at its integrated Kitumba copper mining, processing and metallurgical project in Zambia. As of August 2026, the project’s 38-km water pipeline had been fully commissioned, while the primary crushing plant successfully completed its first integrated trial run with ore. The core supporting infrastructure and front-end crushing system are now ready for commissioning, marking the project’s entry into the final stage of construction. Kitumba is designed to process 3.5 million tonnes of ore annually, with a metallurgical capacity of 35,000 tonnes of copper cathode per year. At steady state, the project is expected to produce an average of 33,000 tonnes of copper cathode and 55,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually. It has a designed operating life of 15 years and is expected to produce a total of 570,200 tonnes of contained copper over that period.