French renewable-energy producer Voltalia SA has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) — the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group — to develop hybrid renewable energy systems for mining operations across Africa. Announced on 17 October 2025, the collaboration seeks to accelerate the decarbonisation of one of Africa’s most energy-intensive industries while improving reliability and reducing costs for mines that have long struggled with inconsistent power supplies.
The initiative, focused initially on Sub-Saharan Africa, will integrate solar, wind, and battery-storage technologies to replace diesel-based power systems at both grid-connected and off-grid mining sites. Feasibility studies are already underway in Ghana, Guinea, Zambia, and Madagascar, regions where limited or unreliable electricity access continues to constrain mining productivity and increase operational costs.
Under the agreement, Voltalia will serve as the developer and operator, while IFC will provide project finance, risk-mitigation instruments, and technical advisory services. Each independent power producer (IPP) project is expected to require between USD 20 million and USD 150 million, depending on mine size and energy demand. The generated electricity will be sold through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with mining companies operating across the continent.
The partnership forms part of IFC’s Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Mining Programme, which aligns with the Paris Agreement and supports Africa’s transition toward low-carbon industrialisation. According to IFC data, the continent’s mining sector currently consumes nearly 10% of Africa’s total electricity, much of it derived from diesel and other high-emission sources. Transitioning these operations to renewable energy could significantly reduce carbon footprints while improving energy independence in resource-rich regions.
For Voltalia, the collaboration underscores its strategy to expand within high-growth emerging markets and contribute to sustainable energy transitions. The company, which already operates over 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity worldwide, is advancing large-scale solar and wind developments in Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt, alongside its growing portfolio in West and Southern Africa.
Pilot projects under the IFC partnership are expected to reach financial close by 2026, with construction commencing soon after. Beyond their environmental benefits, these projects are designed to demonstrate the financial and technical viability of renewables for Africa’s mining sector — a crucial step in reshaping perceptions that sustainable energy solutions are incompatible with industrial-scale operations.
This partnership also reflects a broader shift in how African economies are redefining their energy futures. By embedding renewable systems directly into mining operations — a cornerstone of many African economies — countries can enhance energy security, stabilise power supplies, and promote local employment through technology transfer and infrastructure investment. The initiative therefore positions Africa not merely as a beneficiary of green transitions but as a leader in renewable industrial innovation, advancing solutions developed within the continent for the continent.
As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, ensuring that African mining operations are powered sustainably becomes an economic and environmental imperative. Through collaborations such as this one between Voltalia and IFC, Africa’s renewable energy landscape is being reimagined — not as an adjunct to extractive industries, but as a foundation for their sustainable transformation.
