DR Congo is experiencing a sharp rise in solar investment as mining companies seek reliable, affordable electricity. The country has a low electrification rate, with about 21.5% of its population having access to power as of 2024. However, it imported $249 million worth of Chinese solar panels, making it Africa’s fourth-largest importer, and $429 million in batteries over the past year. The rapid growth in solar purchases has led energy think tank Ember to estimate that solar installations will increase by 544% year-over-year in 2026. More importantly, the new solar capacity will generate energy equivalent to 63% of the country’s current grid output. Already, the decision to invest in solar energy is yielding results. Recently, the Kamoa Copper mine’s solar facility, a 233-megawatt solar array and 526-megawatt-hour battery storage, began operations, delivering at least 30 megawatts of continuous power.