Global commodities trader Trafigura has withdrawn from a proposed 2,000 megawatt power transmission project that was intended to deliver surplus hydropower from Angola to mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, raising questions over the future of one of Central and Southern Africa’s most ambitious cross border energy initiatives.
The project, announced in July 2024 through a non binding agreement involving Trafigura, engineering company ProMarks and the Angolan government, was designed to address long standing electricity constraints affecting mining operations in the region’s copper and cobalt producing areas.
The initiative formed part of wider efforts to strengthen regional economic integration by linking Angola’s expanding electricity generation capacity with neighbouring markets where demand for reliable power has increased alongside growth in critical mineral production.
Angola possesses significant hydropower resources, including major facilities such as the Lauca and Cambambe dams, but parts of the country have historically struggled to fully utilise available generation capacity due to limitations in transmission infrastructure. Meanwhile, mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, which are among the world’s leading producers of copper and cobalt, continue to face energy challenges that affect industrial output and investment.
According to reports by Reuters, sources within Angola’s government and the industry confirmed that Trafigura had withdrawn from the proposed project. The company has not publicly provided reasons for its decision and declined to comment on the matter.
Trafigura’s departure comes as the company remains involved in other strategic initiatives in the region, including its participation in the Lobito Corridor, a major infrastructure route connecting mineral producing areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia with Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito. The corridor is viewed by African governments and international partners as an important platform for improving regional trade connectivity and increasing value creation around critical minerals.
The withdrawal does not necessarily signal the end of Angola’s plans to expand regional electricity exports. Government officials have indicated that discussions with other potential investors and partners are continuing, although the structure and timeline of the original project may change.
Several alternative electricity transmission initiatives are also progressing across the region.
Dubai based Averi Finance and Morocco’s Somagec, through their partnership Meridia Energy, are advancing plans for cross border transmission infrastructure linking Angola with the Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider Southern African Power Pool.
Among these projects is the proposed Soyo Inga Cabinda transmission line, which is expected to have a capacity of up to 800 MW, as well as the Lauca Kolwezi transmission line, designed to deliver up to 1,400 MW to mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The projects have been estimated at approximately $450 million and $1.25 billion respectively, with commercial operations targeted for around 2030.
A separate initiative led by United States based HYDRO LINK is also seeking to develop an electricity interconnector between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proposed 1,200 kilometre project aims to improve electricity supply reliability in the mineral rich provinces of Lualaba and Katanga, where much of the country’s copper and cobalt production is concentrated.
The developments highlight a broader challenge facing African economies as demand grows for minerals required in renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing. While the continent holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals, inadequate infrastructure, particularly in energy and transport, remains a significant barrier to expanding industrial capacity.
For countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, the challenge extends beyond exporting raw materials. Regional leaders have increasingly emphasised the need to build infrastructure that supports local processing, industrial development and greater participation in global mineral supply chains.
The proposed power transmission links reflect this broader ambition by attempting to connect energy resources with mineral production centres across national borders. However, the withdrawal of a major commercial partner demonstrates the complexity of financing large scale infrastructure projects in emerging markets, where technical feasibility, investment risk, regulatory coordination and long term commercial viability must all be carefully balanced.
As Africa seeks to position itself as a central player in the global energy transition, the success of regional initiatives will depend not only on attracting international capital but also on strengthening African led cooperation, institutional capacity and infrastructure networks that support sustainable economic transformation.
