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In a significant push toward regional energy integration and industrial development in Central Africa, U.S.-based energy company HYDRO-LINK has announced a major infrastructure initiative: the construction of a 1,150-kilometre electricity transmission line connecting Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The ambitious project, valued at USD 1.5 billion, is aimed at addressing chronic electricity shortages in the southeastern Copperbelt region of the DRC—a vital mining hub for critical minerals essential to the global energy transition.
The DRC’s Copperbelt region, home to vast deposits of copper and cobalt, has long suffered from an unreliable power supply that hampers mining productivity and economic growth. By tapping into Angola’s hydropower surplus, the new transmission line will provide consistent, high-capacity electricity to these energy-intensive mining operations.
Beyond industrial applications, the project will also extend power to load centres in both Angola and the DRC, helping to alleviate widespread energy poverty and improve public access to electricity.
According to HYDRO-LINK CEO and Chairman Paul Hinks, the transmission line is expected to be completed by 2029. While its primary purpose is to support the mining sector, the broader benefits of the project include:
- Enhanced regional energy security
- Increased power availability for local communities
- Support for industrial zones and mineral processing facilities
- Creation of thousands of local construction and engineering jobs
“This transmission line will be a cornerstone of regional energy integration,” said Hinks. “It will not only secure power for the DRC’s mining sector but also stimulate local manufacturing and long-term economic development.”
The project has gained momentum with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HYDRO-LINK and the Government of Angola, marking a pivotal milestone in its development.
HYDRO-LINK also secured two additional strategic partnerships:
- An MoU with Mitrelli Group, a Swiss-based investment and development firm with long-standing operations in Angola, which will join as a major investor and project partner.
- An agreement with Sargent & Lundy, a U.S.-based engineering and consulting firm, which will provide technical and design expertise for the transmission infrastructure.
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All agreements were formalised in Luanda during the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, reflecting the project’s alignment with both African development priorities and U.S. strategic interests in the region.
This cross-border energy initiative represents a landmark effort to modernise Central Africa’s energy grid, enhance regional cooperation, and unlock the industrial potential of two key African economies.