Kamoa Copper has launched an expression of interest process to prequalify companies specializing in customs clearance for its mining exports. The process aims to identify suppliers that will later participate in a tender for export customs clearance services.

According to a document published on June 16, 2026, the scope covers materials exported from the Kakula mine to various buyers through multiple ports and destination points. Kamoa Copper is seeking experienced agents capable of delivering export customs clearance and related in-country logistics operations in a reliable, cost-effective, safe and compliant manner.

The future service provider will be responsible for a key part of the administrative and customs process. It will be required to ensure that all necessary documentation is available and properly submitted to Kamoa Copper, other relevant parties and the appropriate customs authorities.

The provider will also be responsible for ensuring the correct application of export duties and taxes in line with prevailing customs practices. The assignment is strategic for a company whose export flows depend on coordination among mining sites, government agencies, checkpoints and border crossings out of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Supply Chain

The document states that the services will cover several stages of the export logistics chain. The provider will be required to maintain an operational presence in Lubumbashi and Kolwezi, as well as at border crossings and other points of exit from the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the WHISKI, Kanyaka and Kisanga checkpoints.

Kamoa Copper also said the selected partner must be able to provide representation in Kinshasa or abroad, particularly to address customer requirements and administrative procedures associated with exports.

According to the terms of reference, the selected operator will also serve as a coordinator between Kamoa Copper and public agencies involved in the tracking and traceability of mining shipments. It will be responsible for appointing and managing government representatives operating at the Kakula site or any other company loading site to facilitate cargo transfers and the validation of export documentation.

The provider will also be responsible for payments made on behalf of Kamoa Copper as part of clearing operations. These payments include customs clearance fees, duties payable to the General Directorate of Customs and Excise, and costs associated with regulatory procedures involving the relevant authorities.

The assignment also includes supervising and coordinating customs clearance for all goods exported by road. The provider must ensure that operations are carried out in accordance with applicable local and international procedures, as well as Kamoa Copper’s operational requirements.

Two-Year Contract

To participate in the process, candidate companies must demonstrate between five and 10 years of experience in the mining industry providing similar services. They must also submit three recent and verifiable references, a list of their active operating locations, and details of their compliance procedures and customs dispute management practices.

Kamoa Copper also requires documents demonstrating that bidders are in good standing with the relevant tax and social security authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Candidates must provide an ARSP certificate or another relevant document confirming compliance with the requirements of the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector.

Foreign companies remain eligible, provided they identify the local entity through which they intend to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the document reviewed, the proposed contract would have an initial term of two years. It could be renewed based on an overall performance assessment of the provider, measured against key performance indicators and standard operating procedures defined by Kamoa Copper.

Expressions of interest must be submitted to the company by June 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Kolwezi time.

Kamoa Copper owns the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, one of the largest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company sold 351,674 tonnes of copper in 2025. It projects copper production of between 290,000 and 330,000 tonnes in 2026, rising to between 380,000 and 420,000 tonnes in 2027.

Boaz Kabeya