International Resources Holding (IRH) is expanding beyond its tin interests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, moving into the copper and cobalt sector in Lualaba province. The UAE-based group, which agreed in 2025 to pay $367 million for a 56% stake in Alphamin Resources — operator of the Bisie tin mine in North Kivu — is now linked to assets in Lualaba.

According to Africa Intelligence, the Emirati group is connected to entities that became partners of state miner Gécamines following mining title transfers in September.

Official documents released in recent weeks show that the Kabulungu project, a copper and cobalt deposit in Lualaba, is now held by Kabulungu Kamilombe Mining (KKM). The joint venture is 40% owned by Gécamines and 60% by Falcon Resources. The records confirm a partial transfer of the asset by Gécamines to Falcon Resources, but make no explicit mention of IRH.

Tailings and waste rock permits

Separate transactions have also involved permits related to mining tailings and waste rock in Lualaba. These assets were transferred to Kongo Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Gécamines and Luna Mining. As with the Kabulungu project, public records confirm the transfers and the creation of the entity, but do not establish a direct capital link to IRH.

Africa Intelligence nonetheless reports that both Falcon Resources and Luna Mining are connected to the Emirati group. It also says that KKM and KMC share the same chief executive, Yehezkel Ambar, suggesting operational coordination between the two entities.

In January 2026, 16 memorandums of understanding were signed in Kolwezi between the provincial government and Emirati companies. Authorities said mining was among the sectors covered, though the details of the agreements and the identities of the companies involved have not been disclosed.

These developments come amid a broader push by the United Arab Emirates into African critical minerals. In Zambia, IRH acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines for $1.1 billion in 2024. The group is positioning itself across several metals considered strategic for the energy transition, including copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium. IRH’s corporate filings identify it as a subsidiary of 2PointZero, an investment platform within the International Holding Co (IHC) group.

Timothée Manoke