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MINING

MINING (116)

Cadastre minier (CAMI), the state body managing mining rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has reminded holders of mining rights of their regulatory obligations to begin work. In a statement dated August 20, 2025, and signed by its director general, Popol Mabolia Yenga, CAMI issued a warning that failure to comply could result in the revocation of titles.

The document includes a list of 93 titles at risk of cancellation for non-compliance with legal provisions. Of these, 55 are exploration permits and 33 are exploitation licenses. The list features prominent companies, including Tenke Fungurume Mining, cited for two titles covering six mining blocks in Lualaba province, and Cimenterie de Lukala (Cilu), which holds a title for five mining blocks in the Kongo Central province.

CAMI is enforcing articles 387 and 391 of the Mining Regulations, which require holders of mining and quarrying rights to provide proof that work has commenced within prescribed deadlines: one year from the date of issuance for exploration permits, and between one and three years for exploitation licenses, depending on the case.

Failure to comply exposes operators to the forfeiture of their rights, followed by definitive cancellation after an investigation. The Mining Code also stipulates that any holder whose rights have been forfeited is barred from obtaining new mining or quarrying rights for a period of five years.

This warning comes amid an increasingly strict approach to managing the DRC's mining sector. On August 4, 2025, CAMI submitted its cadastral registry cleanup report to the Minister of Mines, which stated that 594 mining and quarrying titles covering 37,253 mining blocks had been freed up for new investors. The report also noted the regularization of 210 rights that had been under a force majeure status, reclassifying them as active and subject once again to their fiscal, social, and technical obligations.

In 2024, the cleanup process led to the cancellation of over 1,000 non-compliant titles, helping CAMI exceed its budget forecasts for the first quarter of that year by 185.05%.

Timothée Manoke (Intern)

Posted On mercredi, 27 août 2025 06:25 Written by

Japanese firm Solafune has signed a definitive agreement with the National Geological Service of Congo (SGNC), the Ministry of Mines announced on August 23, 2025. The deal, signed on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), was attended by Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba.

The document follows a memorandum of understanding reached in July. While details were not disclosed, the ministry said the first phase of the partnership “starts immediately” and introduces a platform combining satellite remote sensing and geospatial technology with artificial intelligence. The aim is to equip Congolese geologists with modern tools to improve knowledge of the national subsoil, about 90% of which remains unexplored.

Minister Watum Kabamba described the technology transfer as “a decisive step” for national technical services, urging the SGNC to fully exploit the tools to expand geological mapping and accelerate the discovery of new deposits.

The agreement comes as mining exploration in DR Congo increasingly turns to advanced technology. U.S.-based KoBold Metals, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is preparing to use satellite data and AI to explore Congolese deposits. The company has applied for a research permit covering 1,600 km² and signed an agreement with the mining cadastre (CAMI) to digitize geological archives preserved at the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

Posted On mardi, 26 août 2025 08:48 Written by
  • Kibali produced 306,667 ounces in H1 2025, below the half-year target of 344,000–377,500 ounces.

  • Production is down 13% year-on-year due to lower ore grades and operational challenges.

  • Strong gold prices boosted revenues despite lower output

The Kibali gold mine in Haut-Uélé province, DRC, produced 306,666.6 ounces (8,693.8 kg) of gold in the first half of 2025. Barrick Mining, the mine’s operator, reported the figure on August 11. This output falls short of the half-year target of 344,000–377,500 ounces and marks a 13% decline compared with 351,111 ounces in the same period of 2024.

AngloGold Ashanti, which holds a 45% stake in the mine alongside Barrick, attributes the decline to lower ore grades. “Operational difficulties have reduced the amount of underground ore available for processing, increasing the use of lower-grade open-pit ore,” the company said. Barrick had previously forecast higher underground grades later in the year, but this has not yet materialized.

Despite the production drop, high gold prices have bolstered revenue. Kibali’s first-half average selling price is forecast at $3,099 per ounce, up from $2,213 a year earlier. The mine generated $702.2 million in sales in 2024, and analysts from Canadian firm Fidelity anticipate gold could reach $4,000 per ounce by year-end, supporting Barrick’s revenue growth even amid lower output.

This article was initially reported in French by Pierre Mukoko

Adapted in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Posted On mercredi, 13 août 2025 12:08 Written by

• The DRC and Rwanda initialed a new regional economic integration framework on August 1, as part of the June 27 peace agreement.

• The framework aims to formalize mineral supply chains, curb illicit trade, and improve local benefits from resource exploitation.

• U.S. investors are closely watching the process, with strategic minerals and transparency topping the agenda.

By initialing the "text of principles" for a regional economic integration framework in Washington on August 1, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have taken a tentative but meaningful step toward regulating their shared mineral trade. The document, still confidential, is a follow-up to the peace agreement signed between the two countries on June 27 and is expected to pave the way for greater transparency and regional cooperation.

The framework is described as building upon existing African integration efforts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), and the East African Community (EAC).

According to the peace agreement, the two countries are expected to leverage the framework to "develop foreign trade and investment from the region’s supply chains of critical minerals and introduce greater transparency." The underlying goal is to dismantle illicit circuits that have long fueled regional instability and to promote inclusive prosperity through formalized and regulated resource flows.

This move could mark a turning point in the informal mining trade between the DRC and Rwanda, which has been the subject of multiple UN reports alleging illegal trafficking of minerals — including gold, coltan, and tantalum — mined in eastern DRC and re-exported via Rwanda under new labeling.

American interests in the firing line

For Kinshasa, the formalization process represents an opportunity to recapture lost revenues and align its resource exports with international standards. This is particularly relevant for minerals extracted in conflict-affected regions, which often face scrutiny under global sourcing regulations.

The United States, for its part, has expressed support for the initiative and is engaged in parallel talks with the DRC for a dedicated agreement on strategic minerals. U.S. companies such as Kobold Metals and Starlink are already present in the country, and the Biden administration sees regulated supply chains as critical to both commercial and geopolitical interests.

According to sources close to the talks, a more detailed final agreement is expected by September 27. The rollout of the new regional framework is to begin within three months of the peace agreement’s entry into force, although implementation is likely to be phased.

Whether the text of principles leads to concrete, enforceable changes will depend on political will, investor confidence, and the ability of both countries to implement cross-border oversight mechanisms without reigniting old tensions.

This article was initially reported in French by Pierre Mukoko

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Posted On mardi, 05 août 2025 17:10 Written by

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
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