Asignificant leap towards regional energy integration in southern Africa was taken this week as U.S.-based energy company HYDRO-LINK unveiled a $1.5 billion project to construct a 1,150-kilometre electricity transmission line connecting Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The infrastructure initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing electricity deficits in the DRC’s southeastern Copperbelt province, a region critical to the global supply of copper and cobalt. With Angola enjoying substantial hydropower capacity surpluses, particularly from its network of hydroelectric dams such as the Laúca and Cambambe plants, the transmission line will allow the redirection of this excess energy across borders to where it is most urgently needed.
The project was formally launched with the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, held in Luanda. The agreements involve HYDRO-LINK, the Government of Angola, Swiss-based development conglomerate Mitrelli Group, and U.S.-based engineering consultancy Sargent & Lundy. Mitrelli will act as a major strategic investor, bringing decades of operational expertise in Angola, while Sargent & Lundy will be responsible for providing full-scope engineering services.
Scheduled for completion by 2029, the project is set to not only power the DRC’s vast mining operations but also support wider industrialisation ambitions. Load centres in both countries will be integrated into the transmission framework, ensuring that electricity generated in Angola can reach domestic urban and peri-urban populations, alongside industrial clusters.
HYDRO-LINK’s CEO and Chairman, Paul Hinks, described the initiative as “a cornerstone for African energy security,” emphasising the transmission line’s role in stimulating regional manufacturing, mineral beneficiation, and broader industrial growth. He further noted that the project will generate thousands of local jobs during the construction phase, which is expected to bring lasting socio-economic benefits.
In recent years, the DRC has suffered from acute electricity shortfalls, particularly in the resource-rich Copperbelt provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. Mining operations in these areas are regularly constrained by power supply issues, impacting both productivity and regional revenues. The proposed cross-border line is viewed as an efficient solution for leveraging Angola’s renewable hydropower surplus to stabilise DRC’s industrial output.
From a geopolitical perspective, the project underscores the growing emphasis on U.S.-Africa energy partnerships. It aligns with broader African Union and Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) objectives to harmonise energy infrastructure and market coordination across the continent. This strategy seeks to reduce reliance on localised generation, promote cleaner energy sources, and build resilience against power disruptions.
With both Angola and the DRC being members of SAPP, the new transmission corridor will further operationalise regional electricity trade under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework, enhancing energy reliability for both industrial and public consumption.
Furthermore, the collaboration between private enterprise and public sector stakeholders reflects a growing shift in how large-scale energy infrastructure is financed and implemented in Africa. By drawing on global technical expertise and diverse investment sources, the HYDRO-LINK project is expected to serve as a model for future cross-border energy cooperation in the region.
