The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines said on March 18, 2026, it had deployed a joint inspection mission to the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) site, a subsidiary of China Molybdenum Company (CMOC), following allegations of air pollution affecting communities in Lualaba province.

The decision followed a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) citing deteriorating air quality around the mine.

The ministry said the allegations are, at this stage, largely based on unverified claims that have not been confirmed through scientific and technical methods.

The mission will conduct in-depth technical assessments, including air quality monitoring, checks on industrial discharge compliance, and verification of adherence to environmental and social standards. A report is expected at the end of the investigation and could lead to administrative, environmental or judicial action.

The decision to deploy the mission was made during a consultation meeting with TFM executives on March 18. The company was also asked to provide evidence of compliance with its environmental obligations.

EIA report focuses on processing plant

The EIA report focuses primarily on TFM’s processing plant, known as 30K, where CMOC converts copper-cobalt ore into cobalt hydroxide.

The plant, the largest of its kind globally, was commissioned in 2023. Since then, the report says, elevated sulfur dioxide levels have been recorded in the area, along with a rise in respiratory illnesses.

The NGO said its findings are based on an analysis of more than 1,200 medical records, citing cases of coughs, bronchitis and pneumonia among nearby residents and some workers. TFM disputes the findings and rejects any link between its operations and the reported health problems.

The inspection comes as authorities step up environmental oversight in DR Congo’s mining sector. In January 2026, they required mining companies to provide proof that financial guarantees for site rehabilitation had been secured and to submit approved environmental plans.

CMOC is one of the leading mining operators in DR Congo. Through its subsidiaries TFM and Kisanfu, the group exported 747,468 metric tons of copper in 2025, according to provisional data, accounting for 22% of the country’s total exports.

The company is also a major cobalt producer. Before the 2025 embargo, it exported nearly 96,000 metric tons of cobalt, representing about 50% of national output.

Ronsard Luabeya