China Minmetals Corporation (CMC), the indirect majority shareholder of MMG, is seeking to acquire new mining permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a March 24, 2026 meeting in Beijing with Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba.

Discussions focused on expanding the group’s operations in the country, the ministry said. China Minmetals also expressed interest in technical collaboration with the National Geological Service to accelerate the identification of new deposits.

During the meeting, the minister outlined the DRC’s strategic priorities, emphasizing geological research, local processing of mineral resources, job creation, and greater Congolese participation in the mining value chain.

The ministry said the meeting supports a model based on productive investment, local value addition, and the sustainable development of the mining sector.

Kinsevere central to CMC’s operations

In the DRC, the group’s main asset is the Kinsevere mine, operated by MMG, located about 30 km north of Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga. Historically focused on copper production, the site has been expanded to include copper sulfide and cobalt processing.

Approved in March 2022, the project aimed for total investment of $550 million to $600 million, with a target annual output of 80,000 tonnes of copper cathode and 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes of cobalt at full capacity. As part of the project, $300 million in financing was secured in December 2023 from Top Create Resources Limited, an entity linked to CMC.

After mechanical completion of the expansion in September 2024, MMG targeted production of 63,000 to 69,000 tonnes of copper cathode at Kinsevere in 2025. The target was not met. According to MMG, the mine produced 52,791 tonnes of copper in 2025, an 18% increase year-on-year. This increase reflects the gradual ramp-up of the expansion.

Ronsard Luabeya