• Chinese company Longjing Environmental Protection invests $399 million in a 140 MW hydroelectric plant in DRC's Haut-Lomami province 

• Zijin Mining applies for a concession to develop the 108 MW Mpiana-Mwanga hydroelectric station to power the world-class Manono lithium project 

• Combined projects will supply mining operations while providing electricity to local communities across multiple provinces

According to several trading platforms, Chinese environmental technology company Longjing Environmental Protection will invest $399 million in a 140 MW hydroelectric power plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The move highlights Beijing's deepening energy infrastructure push across mineral-rich Central Africa.

The project in Haut-Lomami province represents the latest phase of Chinese industrial expansion in the DRC, where parent company Zijin Mining operates extensive mining concessions and is positioning itself to tap one of the world's largest lithium deposits.

Lualaba River Project Powers Mining Expansion

Longjing's subsidiary Zijin Longjing secured 80% control of the hydroelectric project through its Hong Kong arm, which acquired rights-holding company GML. Located on the Lualaba River, approximately 200 kilometers from Kolwezi—home to several Zijin Mining concessions—the facility will generate an estimated 714 million kilowatt-hours annually.

Construction is scheduled to take three and a half years, with 90% of electricity earmarked for Zijin's mining sites and 10% allocated to local communities. The project aligns with Longjing's strategy of combining environmental protection with renewable energy development while supporting broader group expansion.

Lithium Ambitions Drive Second Major Project

Simultaneously, Zijin Mining has applied for concession rights to develop the 108 MW Mpiana-Mwanga hydroelectric station on the Luvua River in Tanganyika province. This facility, located over 90 kilometers northeast of Manono, will primarily power the massive Manono lithium project—considered among the world's largest high-grade lithium deposits.

The application, submitted through the Katamba Mining joint venture with Congolese state company Cominière, signals Zijin's commitment to securing reliable power for lithium extraction operations critical to global battery supply chains.

Vice President James Wang indicated the Mpiana-Mwanga station will also serve local communities, including Manono town and territory, Kanuka village, Malemba Nkulu territory, and Manono airfield—demonstrating efforts to balance industrial needs with community development.

Strategic Energy Infrastructure Play

The dual hydroelectric investments reflect a broader Chinese strategy in the DRC: securing energy infrastructure to support mineral extraction while positioning for long-term industrial presence. Zijin Mining's 29.25% stake in Longjing's parent company, Fujian Longking, underscores the integrated approach linking mining operations with power generation.

For the DRC, these projects promise much needed electricity infrastructure while raising questions about resource control and community benefits as Chinese industrial presence expands across the country's mineral-rich provinces.

Timothée Manoke