Katamba Mining Expands Mpiana-Mwanga Hydroelectric Project to 148 MW to Power Manono Lithium Mine and Local Communities
Katamba Mining has submitted an application to the Electricity Sector Regulation Authority (ARE) for a production concession to develop the third phase of the Mpiana-Mwanga hydroelectric plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The company, owned 70% by China’s Zijin Mining and 30% by state-owned Cominière, plans to install an additional 108 MW of capacity at the plant, located in the Manono territory of Tanganyika province.
This application follows Katamba Mining’s April tender to recruit a subcontractor to build and operate a crushing facility, which will produce sand and gravel for the construction of Mpiana-Mwanga III. The new hydropower unit will be situated more than 90 kilometers northeast of Manono.
Boosting Capacity and Restoring Infrastructure
With the planned expansion, the Mpiana-Mwanga complex will reach a total capacity of 148 MW. The rehabilitation of the plant’s first two phases, completed in 2024 at a cost of $80 million, had already restored 97-year-old installations that had been offline since 1998, increasing generation to 40 MW, up 30% from the original output.
Powering Lithium and Local Development
The primary objective of this investment is to provide reliable energy for the Manono lithium mining project, regarded as one of the world’s largest high-grade lithium deposits.
However, Katamba Mining has also applied for a distribution concession to extend electricity supply to local communities and infrastructure, including the city and territory of Manono, the village of Kanuka (Tanganyika), the territory of Malemba Nkulu (Haut-Lomami), and the Manono airfield.
According to Zijin Mining’s 2024 annual report, preliminary exploration in the northeastern zone of the Manono deposit has confirmed 2.62 million tonnes of lithium oxide at an average grade of 1.5%, equivalent to 6.47 million tonnes of lithium carbonate. The company is targeting the first quarter of 2026 to commence production.
Katamba Mining’s hydropower expansion underscores the strategic integration of energy infrastructure with mining development, positioning Manono as a cornerstone of the global lithium supply chain while delivering broader benefits to the DRC’s regional economy.
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