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MINING

MINING (112)

Twenty-nine new oil blocks cover 72% of the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor, a protected ecological zone.

The Green Corridor spans 544,270 km², aiming to protect over 100,000 km² of primary forest and promote a green economy.

Environmentalists warn oil exploration threatens the project’s climate goals and international reputation.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) balances two conflicting ambitions: becoming a major oil producer while solidifying its role as a climate change solution country. A June 20, 2025 map analysis by NGO Earth Insight reveals 29 newly auctioned oil blocks overlap 72% of the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor.

Created on January 15, 2025, the Green Corridor aims to position the DRC as a global leader in combating climate change. The corridor covers 544,270 km²—over a quarter of the nation—and protects more than 100,000 km² of primary forests. Its founding decree mandates that any new economic projects within the corridor align with this green vision. However, oil extraction directly contradicts this goal.

In December 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Ève Bazaibatold Deutsche Welle that mining permits granted inside the Green Corridor would be revoked. Since 2018, the state oil company Comico holds three blocks in Équateur province, including Busira and Mbandaka, which lie inside the corridor boundaries defined in 2025.

Hydrocarbons Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo responded to criticism in Jeune Afrique by stating that the auctioned blocks had been “detoxified” to exclude protected zones. The government maintains it will not back down, aiming to balance exploration and production with safeguarding future generations’ interests.

Earth Insight strongly challenges this approach. The NGO argues that auctioning fossil fuel concessions within the Green Corridor undermines its international credibility and breaches commitments to biodiversity and climate action. The stakes are high given the corridor’s dependence on outside funding.

President Félix Tshisekedi estimates the project needs one billion dollars over three to four years to succeed. In January 2025 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he showcased the Green Corridor and secured pledges from the European Union and Team Europe initiative to mobilize one billion euros in support for the community-based protected area.

Timothée Manoke, intern

Posted On mardi, 29 juillet 2025 06:26 Written by

Highlights:

• 60 MW solar project underway; target expansion to 120 MW with no timeline yet
• Two PPAs signed with CrossBoundary (Kenya) and Green World (China), each for 30 MW
• Kamoa-Kakula mine to rely solely on green energy by 2026; demand projected at 240 MW

Kamoa Copper plans to gradually scale up solar power capacity at its Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aiming for an installed capacity of 120 MW. Ivanhoe Mines, a key shareholder and the operator of the site, disclosed the information in a press release issued July 8, 2025. No specific timeline for the expansion was provided.

Currently, a 60 MW solar power plant with battery storage is under construction at the site near Kolwezi, Lualaba province. This infrastructure stems from two power purchase agreements signed in late March and early April 2025. Each agreement covers 30 MW and involves CrossBoundary Energy DRC, based in Nairobi, and Green World Energie SARL, headquartered in Beijing. Both companies are responsible for financing, building, and operating their respective units.

CrossBoundary confirmed its contract will run for 17 years, while Green World has not disclosed the terms of its agreement.

Initial site work began in Q2 2025, including geotechnical assessments, land clearing, and procurement of long-lead equipment, such as the battery energy storage system (BESS), a modular electrical station (E-house), and structural assemblies. Commissioning is slated for mid-2026.

By that time, electricity demand at Kamoa-Kakula is expected to reach 240 MW. The operator aims to meet this requirement entirely through renewable sources, including an increased supply of hydroelectricity from the national grid. This will be enabled by the ongoing rehabilitation of turbine 5 at the Inga II dam, which is expected to deliver 178 MW once grid reinforcement is complete in 2026.

With the new capacity, Kamoa-Kakula could stop relying on electricity from Zambia and Mozambique. In April, Ivanhoe reported an increase in hydro imports from 50 MW to 70 MW, with a potential ramp-up to 100 MW.

This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Posted On mercredi, 23 juillet 2025 05:48 Written by

Highlights:

• DRC signs strategic deals with KoBold Metals and Solafune to modernize geological data systems
• KoBold to digitize archives and launch exploration campaign over 1,600 km² by the end of July
• Solafune to support AI-based mapping and expert training under new MoU

The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed two preliminary agreements with U.S.-based KoBold Metals and Japan's Solafune Inc. to modernize access to geological data and bolster mineral exploration using artificial intelligence and satellite technology.

KoBold, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, will digitize Congo’s geological archives held at the Royal Museum of Central Africa by July 31, 2025. The company also plans to launch large-scale mineral exploration, submitting permit applications covering 1,600 km² by the same date. Under the agreement, all data generated will be made publicly accessible through the National Geological Service of Congo (SGN-C), which will also act as the official platform for data validation and archiving. 

Solafune, meanwhile, signed a memorandum of understanding to provide AI-driven support for geological mapping and train Congolese experts. The goal is to increase transparency and improve governance of mineral resources through better subsurface knowledge.

Congolese authorities describe the KoBold deal as a "strategic partnership" aimed at attracting U.S. investment. In 2024, the DRC led African mining exploration with $130.7 million in investment—10% of the continent’s total—according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. 

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya, intern

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Posted On mercredi, 23 juillet 2025 05:15 Written by

Highlights:

• Loncor Gold has received a non-binding, unsolicited proposal from a third-party investor.
• A special committee has been appointed to evaluate the offer.
• The offer comes as gold prices surge, boosting investor interest in the Adumbi project.

Canadian mining firm Loncor Gold announced it has received a non-binding and unsolicited offer from an undisclosed third-party investor regarding a potential transaction. While the nature of the deal—be it an acquisition, merger, or equity stake—remains unclear, a special committee of directors has been formed to assess the proposal.

This development coincides with ongoing exploration work at the Adumbi gold deposit, Loncor’s flagship asset located in the Ngayu greenstone belt in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company controls 84.68% of the project, with 10% held by the Congolese state through its mining company Sokimo.

According to a 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), the site could yield approximately 303,000 ounces of gold over 10.3 years, requiring a $392 million initial investment. Loncor indicated that further updates may be released “should circumstances warrant.”

The announcement comes amid a 30% year-to-date rise in global gold prices. The metal trades above $3,000 per ounce, per World Gold Council data. The bullish market environment could help Loncor attract a strong operational partner for Adumbi.

This article was initially published in French by PM (Agence Ecofin).

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Posted On jeudi, 17 juillet 2025 17:23 Written by

• Dan Gertler’s testimony details secretive payments and complex asset structures that enabled private — and often foreign — interests to control the DRC’s critical mining resources.
• Gertler admits to providing cash loans directly to the Central Bank and state companies, revealing weak financial oversight during the Kabila era.
• Despite some recent reforms, transparency and governance problems persist, hindering the DRC’s ability to maximize benefits from its vast copper and cobalt reserves.

Israeli businessman Dan Gertler’s testimony has exposed mismanagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector under President Joseph Kabila from 2001 to 2019. His statements are part of an April 2024 arbitration ruling in Israel, tied to a dispute with former partners Moises and Mendi Gertner. Bloomberg reported the contents on July 14, 2025, citing the NGO PPLAAF as the source.

Though Gertler denies any wrongdoing, he has faced U.S. sanctions since 2017 for allegedly amassing wealth through shady mining and oil deals in the DRC. In his testimony, he admitted to paying large sums to Kabila's close ally, Augustin Katumba Mwanke, to obtain permits—bolstering long-standing corruption allegations.

Cash Loans to BCC

Gertler’s testimony also highlights the opaque structuring of interests in gold, iron, and copper mining permits involving himself and Augustin Katumba Mwanke. Several assets were deliberately placed in separate legal entities, in accordance with their arrangements. Gertler claims he held mining stakes worth several hundred million dollars on behalf of Katumba, while remaining unaware of other Congolese stakeholders involved. This layered structure complicated oversight and enabled both private and foreign actors to indirectly influence the control of strategic Congolese mineral resources.

In addition, Gertler acknowledged providing “cash loans” to the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) and the state-run diamond company MIBA. He defended this by citing the absence of a functioning banking system at the time. Nonetheless, these transactions expose a troubling lack of oversight in financial flows within the DRC’s extractive industry.

The arbitration ruling, spanning over 1,200 pages and grounded in more than 10,000 pages of testimony and exhibits, did not aim to assess the legality of the transactions. The arbitrator found no compelling proof of corruption or illicit payments. Still, the disclosures echo long-standing criticisms of governance in the mining sector—use of front men, absence of transparency regarding beneficial owners, murky licensing processes, and informal, loosely regulated financial practices.

EITI Notes Progress

Corruption remains a serious concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s extractive industries. Major players like Glencore Plc have faced legal consequences, paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and settlements across multiple jurisdictions—including the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, and the DRC—for corrupt practices linked to mining asset acquisitions.

Dan Gertler’s involvement continues to attract scrutiny. Despite agreeing in 2022 to surrender some assets, recent tax proceedings confirm that he still benefits from royalty rights in three large-scale copper and cobalt projects. His ongoing presence highlights the persistence of opaque financial arrangements in the sector.

The DRC has made incremental progress. EITI’s 2024 report notes the country's commitment to beneficial ownership transparency, with public disclosures dating back to 2015—though data gaps remain. The 2018 mining code mandates the publication of contracts and permits, but implementation remains inconsistent. The IMF, in its January 2025 report, acknowledged advances in reform, while urging the DRC to strengthen enforcement and reduce loopholes—particularly the 25% threshold for beneficial ownership, which remains too permissive.

Economic Stakes

Further governance concerns arise from the government's recent decision to require oil exports to use officially approved charterers. While intended to improve control over export logistics, this raises new questions about the accountability and transparency of intermediaries.

The Democratic Republic of Congo relies heavily on its mining sector, making transparency vital for economic growth. In 2024, the country produced 3.3 million metric tonnes of copper—a 12.6% year-on-year increase—ranking it second globally. It remains the world’s top cobalt producer, with 170,000 tonnes extracted and reserves estimated at 6 million tonnes.

Mining accounts for roughly 6% of national GDP and provides 40% of government income. Stronger governance would help the DRC maximize revenues, attract responsible investors, improve wealth distribution, and meet international expectations for ethical supply chains of key minerals like copper and cobalt.

This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

 

Posted On jeudi, 17 juillet 2025 15:37 Written by

• CMOC increased DRC cobalt production to 61,073 tonnes in the first half of 2025, up 13% year-on-year.
• Cobalt exports remain frozen under a government embargo, while copper prices hit record highs.
• Cobalt prices jumped 60% after the embargo but CMOC cannot ship, forcing a stockpile build-up.

China’s CMOC group ramped up cobalt output in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to 61,073 tonnes in the first half of 2025, a 13% rise over last year. The company shared these results in a financial report on July 14. Production surged 20% in the first quarter, as CMOC mined a total of 30,414 tonnes from its Tenke-Fungurume and Kisanfu sites.

CMOC credited higher mineral prices for the production jump. Cobalt is a by-product of copper, and surging copper prices have driven the mining boom. 

Yet the landscape for cobalt is difficult. Since February 24, CMOC has not exported cobalt after the Congolese government imposed an embargo to support prices as the market faces oversupply. On June 30, CMOC halted all cobalt deliveries. Its trading subsidiary, IXM, declared force majeure on cobalt contracts in response to the disruption.

After the embargo started, cobalt prices soared by 60%, hitting a peak of $33,700 per tonne in April. While prices dropped in June, they rebounded following a DRC decision to extend the export ban. Cobalt is still trading above $33,700 per tonne.

CMOC says it still targets annual cobalt production between 100,000 and 120,000 tonnes in 2025. However, the path to resuming exports remains unclear. The export embargo technically ends in September, but the Regulatory Authority for Strategic Mineral Substances Markets (ARECOMS) has warned it might extend, modify, or lift the ban at any time. The agency has not announced a target price for lifting the restriction. The DRC state budget for 2025 is based on a cobalt price of $28,000 per tonne.

Pierre Mukoko with Agence Ecofin

 

Posted On mardi, 15 juillet 2025 13:14 Written by

Kamoa Copper, owner of the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, signed a sales contract with Swiss trader Trafigura to sell 20% of the copper anode output from its smelter. The smelter will begin operations in September 2025. Ivanhoe Mines, a major shareholder in Kamoa Copper, revealed this in its quarterly report on July 8.

The deal, finalized in June, spans three years. Trafigura also provided a $200 million advance loan to Kamoa Copper. The loan carries an interest rate based on the US dollar’s average monthly SOFR rate plus 3.75%. Kamoa Copper will repay this advance with copper anodes equal to the loan amount plus interest.

With this contract, Kamoa Copper secures pre-sales for 100% of its smelter’s production, which is expected to reach 500,000 tonnes of copper anodes per year. Earlier in January, Ivanhoe Mines announced agreements covering 80% of smelter output with Chinese firms CITIC Metal and Gold Mountains International Mining Company, affiliates of Zijin Mining. Zijin Mining also holds stakes in Kamoa Copper and Ivanhoe Mines. That deal included a $500 million advance loan on terms similar to Trafigura’s.

Since starting production in mid-2021, Kamoa Copper has favored pre-sale agreements backed by advance payments. However, the Congolese government, holding a 20% minority stake, has expressed concerns. Alongside Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining (39.6%), and Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%), Kamoa Copper operates under Kamoa Holding Limited.

Ivanhoe Mines insists these contracts reflect “competitive and independent commercial terms.” Yet, in December, Congo’s Portfolio Minister Jean-Lucien Bussa criticized Kamoa Copper for selling below market prices. He announced plans for the government to participate in selecting buyers to optimize copper revenues and ensure fair resource valuation. No recent updates have emerged on implementing this measure.

This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Posted On vendredi, 11 juillet 2025 15:46 Written by

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 8 a 50% tariff on all copper imports, a move intended to repatriate copper production and reduce foreign dependence, which he described as a national security risk.

The United States ranks as the world’s second-largest copper importer after China. It mainly imports refined copper. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, copper imports hit $17 billion in 2024, with $6 billion coming from Chile alone.

The administration has not confirmed an official start date for the tariff but hinted it could take effect as early as August. The announcement immediately sent copper prices soaring on the U.S. market. On the Commodity Exchange (COMEX), futures contracts jumped 13%, marking the largest single-day gain since 1968. Prices then settled just below $5.60 per pound the next day.

Traders reacted to the prospect of costlier copper imports by anticipating shortages. Some signs point to speculative buying, as investors seek to profit from expected price hikes once the tariffs kick in.

Ripple Effects on the DRC

This price surge comes amid strong global demand for copper, a metal essential for electric vehicles (about 80 kg per car), renewable energy, and infrastructure projects. Analysts project a global supply shortfall of 4.5 million tonnes by 2030. This deficit supports prices on international markets, including the London Metal Exchange (LME). Meanwhile, Trump’s push to curb Chinese influence in supply chains adds to trade tensions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo produced roughly 2.5 million tonnes of copper in 2024, about 11% of the world’s supply. The country stands to benefit indirectly from rising prices. Major foreign companies such as CMOC, Zijin Mining, Ivanhoe Mines, and Glencore dominate Congolese copper production. The state usually holds only a minority stake.

Most copper production in the DRC sells through forward contracts, often with entities linked to producers. These agreements fix prices in advance or use past averages, limiting the government’s ability to immediately profit from price spikes. In contrast, mining companies see their stock values rise directly. The Congolese government has expressed interest in joining marketing processes but has made little concrete progress so far.

On the fiscal front, the DRC collects export royalties. However, these taxes often rely on anticipated average prices, which means the government misses out on sudden price jumps.

Medium-Term Prospects

The 2018 Mining Code’s superprofit tax could become a key tool. This 50% tax applies when commodity prices exceed by 25% the economic assumptions in feasibility studies. For example, if a study assumes $4 per pound ($8,818.5 per tonne), the tax applies from $5 per pound ($11,023 per tonne). With U.S. copper prices currently at $5.60 per pound ($12,368 per tonne), this tax is now relevant.

Copper prices rose 38.8% between January and July 2025, from $4.04 to $5.61 per pound, and nearly doubled over five years. Many projects now exceed the superprofit tax threshold. However, estimating the exact fiscal gain remains challenging.

The long-term impact of the U.S. tariff on the DRC depends on how it influences prices and demand. Analysts agree U.S. copper imports will not drop immediately despite the tariffs. The U.S. lacks the mines, smelters, and refineries to meet its needs alone. Projects like Resolution Copper require 7 to 10 years and billions in investment to come online.

The U.S. imports about 45% of its copper needs. Washington may even increase copper purchases to support its reindustrialization plans. Global demand should grow 3 to 5% annually through 2030, driven by the energy transition.

If the DRC boosts production to 3.5 to 4 million tonnes, as planned with expansions like Kamoa-Kakula, the country could earn $30 to $40 billion annually in export revenues by then.

Georges Auréole Bamba

Posted On jeudi, 10 juillet 2025 13:44 Written by

Dowstone Technology, a Chinese company specializing in battery materials, announced on July 3, 2025, its plan to build a new copper smelter in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The company intends to invest $165 million in the plant, which is expected to produce 30,000 tons of copper cathodes annually. Construction for the facility is projected to take 18 months.

Subject to regulatory approvals from both countries, this project could ultimately strengthen China’s presence in the refined copper sector within the DRC. Several Chinese companies have been investing in local processing of Congolese copper in recent years. Dowstone itself is already active in the country, reporting cathode production units with an annual capacity exceeding 60,000 tons as of late 2024. China Nonferrous Mining Corp (CNMC) also operates the Lualaba Copper Smelter, which opened in 2020 and has a processing capacity of 100,000 tons of copper.

Meanwhile, Chinese groups Zijin Mining and CITIC Metal have signed agreements with Canadian company Ivanhoe Mines to secure 80% of the output from the upcoming Kamoa-Kakula smelter. This facility, set to begin operations in September 2025, will be Africa's largest of its kind with an annual processing capacity of 500,000 tons of copper. Notably, Zijin Mining is already directly involved in the project due to its 39.6% stake in the Kamoa-Kakula mine.

China's Growing Footprint in DRC Copper

China's significant involvement in refined Congolese copper highlights the evolving trade relationship between the two nations. In 2024, Congolese exports of refined copper to China reached 1.48 million tons, marking a 71% annual increase.

As a major hub for refining strategic minerals, China is also a large consumer, relying on key supply sources to meet its demand. The DRC, for its part, is Africa's leading copper producer and ranks second globally.

However, this new project announced by Dowstone comes as Kinshasa looks to diversify its mining partners. According to Marcellin Paluku, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Mines, 80% of Congolese mines are operated in partnership with Chinese companies, which he views as a "risk" to the local economy.

The government is therefore seeking other partners, such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, to lessen this reliance. The impact of this strategic shift on future Chinese investments remains uncertain for now.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou, Ecofin Agency

Posted On mercredi, 09 juillet 2025 05:27 Written by

Maniema province has become the Democratic Republic of Congo’s leading center for legal artisanal gold exports. Since DRC Gold Trading SA opened its Kindu branch on March 25, 2025, the province has exported 447.028 kilograms of gold. That’s 42.3% of all the country’s official artisanal gold exports.

The shift follows DRC Gold Trading SA’s withdrawal from South Kivu. The region once accounted for over 90% of legal artisanal gold exports in 2023 and 2024. But worsening insecurity, including the advance of M23 rebels, forced the company to halt operations there in March. As a result, most South Kivu gold now avoids official channels and fuels informal cross-border trade.

This disruption undermines the company’s February pledge to export at least 5 tons of artisanal gold in 2025, worth about $1.3 billion.

To fill the gap left by South Kivu, DRC Gold Trading SA opened new branches this year in Buta (Bas-Uélé), Bunia (Ituri), and Isiro (Haut-Uélé). Yet early results show exports lag far behind expectations. Nationwide, the company shipped only 1,057.88 kilograms of gold in the first half of 2025, meeting just 21% of its annual target.

This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke, intern

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Posted On lundi, 07 juillet 2025 12:32 Written by
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