The development of the Musompo Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is underway. Louis Watum Kabamba, DR Congo’s Minister of Industry and SME Development, officially launched the works on March 26, 2025. Spanning over 900 hectares, this ambitious project is located in the Lualaba province, a cobalt-rich region. The facility will produce batteries, battery precursors, and potentially assemble electric vehicles using local raw materials.

The Musompo SEZ is part of a broader initiative that began with a framework agreement signed on March 27, 2023, between Kinshasa, Lusaka, and several partner institutions. This agreement envisioned creating a cross-border SEZ for battery and electric vehicle production in both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Afreximbank were tasked with leading the creation of a company to develop and operate these SEZs, in collaboration with public and private investors from both countries and international partners.

However, it remains unclear if this company has been formally established. Arise IIP, a pan-African infrastructure developer, was appointed as a technical consultant to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the SEZs. While the study was scheduled for completion in 2023, results have not been publicly disclosed so far.

The development of the Musompo SEZ is estimated to cost over $200 million, though the project timeline has not been announced. 

With the zone, the Congolese government seeks to attract significant private investment by offering tax and customs exemptions, among other incentives. For its part, the Congolese Ministry of Industry and SME Development hopes to mobilize nearly $2 billion in investments through the project, potentially generating around 25,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect ones.

Materializing this vision will require overcoming substantial challenges, particularly in infrastructure and energy supply. Lualaba province currently faces limitations in electricity availability, with an installed capacity of 847.2 MW in 2024, according to the DRC’s power regulator, the ARE. However, efforts are underway to enhance the region's power supply, with 17 projects initiated in 2023.

This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho