China's Boleton and Jinchengjian Sign Over US$650 Million Energy Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, China's Boleton Technology Co., Ltd. and Jinchengjian Co., Ltd. signed the Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement on Green Energy and Intelligent Mining Industry Synergy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), planning to advance local smelter energy supporting projects in phases over the next three years. The cooperation plan involves 275 MW of photovoltaic power, 400 MWh of energy storage, and a hydro-solar hybrid integrated energy project, with the related energy projects expected to involve a total investment exceeding US$650 million, and also covers the electrification of mining transport equipment and autonomous driving applications.

The energy construction plan includes a hydro-solar hybrid integrated energy project consisting of 200 MW of photovoltaic power, 200 MWh of energy storage, and 110 MW of hydropower. The two parties intend to advance the construction of photovoltaic power generation, energy storage facilities, and hydropower supporting facilities in phases based on the electricity demand of local smelters in the DRC. The 275 MW of photovoltaic power and 400 MWh of energy storage represent the intended construction scale for the next three years, with specific construction arrangements to be determined through subsequent dedicated contracts.

The mining equipment cooperation involves a procurement or deployment plan for 200 electric mining trucks and the planned establishment of a demonstration fleet of 50 autonomous driving electric mining trucks. The two parties intend to combine new energy power supply, electric mining truck transport, and autonomous driving systems around Jinchengjian's subsequent mining development operations in the DRC, carrying out electrification and intelligent application of heavy-load mining transport.

According to the cooperation terms disclosed by Boleton, the two parties also plan to advance an intelligent zero-carbon mine demonstration project in the African Copperbelt. The strategic cooperation letter of intent is valid for five years, until October 28, 2031. The investment arrangements, construction scale, and delivery milestones of the energy projects, as well as the specific quantity, prices, and delivery cycles of the mining equipment, shall be subject to dedicated contracts subsequently signed by both parties.