News (383)
Congolese authorities have begun construction on the 160-kilometer Likasi-Solwezi road, a project expected to significantly boost trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Haut-Katanga Governor Jacques Kyabula announced the launch of the $230 million project on July 8, 2025, during a visit to Likasi, the province's second largest city. The road is expected to take three years to complete.
According to Okapi Global Engineering Consultations LLC, the project also includes building three toll stations and a dry port in Kikoyo Mwabesa with a capacity for 1,000 vehicles.
Leveling work is already underway and well advanced in certain sections, particularly near the Panda bridge at the entrance to Likasi. Radio Okapi reported a large fleet of equipment, including dump trucks, water tankers, graders, and compactors, mobilized at the site in preparation for paving.
Vaste Réseau des Services au Congo (VRSC) is carrying out the work. The terms of its selection have not been publicly disclosed, but it is described as a company specializing in civil engineering and logistics, providing solutions to mining firms.
Under development for several years, this road is expected to play a strategic role in boosting trade between the DRC and Zambia. It will help ease congestion on the heavily used Likasi-Lubumbashi-Kasumbalesa axis, thereby improving traffic flow in this mining zone.
In parallel, other links between the DRC and Zambia are under construction, such as the Kolwezi-Solwezi road corridor. This approximately 165-kilometer corridor aims to directly connect two mining regions to stimulate trade, decongest existing roads, and strengthen economic integration between the two countries.
Ronsard Luabeya (Intern)
The Democratic Republic of Congo will introduce a 2% tax on imported goods to fund its universal healthcare program. Food and agricultural products will be exempt. Health Minister Roger Kamba announced the measure on July 14 and said Prime Minister Judith Suminwa is expected to sign the decree this week.
The tax aims to provide steady funding for the country’s under-resourced healthcare system, which has faced repeated budget shortfalls due to competing security priorities, especially in eastern DRC. Revenues will go directly to the national Health Promotion Fund, which manages drug procurement, hospital renovations, and equipment upgrades nationwide.
Minister Kamba said the new tax is a structural response to the unstable and often insufficient budget support from the national treasury. In addition to the import levy, a second funding mechanism was recently approved by the National Labor Council, which includes unions, employers, and the government. It introduces a 2.5% health contribution based on gross salary—0.5% paid by workers and 2% by employers. For those earning the recently raised minimum wage of $130, this equates to a monthly contribution of $3 by employees and $13 by employers.
The minister said both measures will help ensure long-term financing for the country’s universal health coverage (UHC) goals. The current program, launched in September 2023, offers free childbirth services in public hospitals. Future expansion is expected to cover more services as funding grows. The UHC initiative is part of a national plan to make healthcare a guaranteed right for all Congolese citizens.
Ronsard Luabeya, intern
• 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
CrossBoundary Energy (CBE), a developer of distributed renewable energy solutions, announced on July 14, 2025, it secured a $60 million loan from Standard Bank South Africa. The financing will accelerate the development of a solar power plant designed to supply the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This funding will expedite the procurement of critical long-lead equipment. This includes battery energy storage systems (BESS), photovoltaic solar modules, and substations, aiming to reduce the commissioning time for the 223 megawatt-peak (MWp) plant. The plant will be coupled with a 526 megawatt-hour (MWh) storage system and ensure a stable 30 megawatt (MW) power supply to the mine.
Beyond equipment procurement, initial construction began in the second quarter of 2025 with geotechnical studies and site clearing. Completion is scheduled for mid-2026.
The plant, owned by CrossBoundary Energy, will supply electricity to the mining complex for 17 years under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with Kamoa Copper.
Located in Lualaba Province, Kamoa-Kakula is one of Africa’s most advanced copper projects. Its expanding operations require a continuous electricity supply. The site's power needs are expected to reach around 240 MW when phases 1, 2, and 3, along with the future smelter, are all running at full capacity by 2026. The solar-plus-storage project is a key initiative to secure a stable and decarbonized energy supply for the complex.
PM
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
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
On July 8 in Abu Dhabi, UAE-based investment group NG9 Holding signed two confidentiality agreements with Congolese companies Buenassa Resources SA and Kipay Energy. The deals were signed in the presence of Daniel Mukoko Samba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of National Economy. The non-disclosure agreements open the door for formal discussions toward future partnerships.
NG9 Holding is a diversified conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi, formed by the merger of Nirvana Holding, Gewan Holding, and 9Yards Group. It operates across tourism, hospitality, logistics, and media sectors.
According to the Ministry of Economy, as reported by Radio Okapi, NG9 Holding could play a key role in financing the two Congolese projects thanks to its $500 million energy fund and credit lines that could extend beyond $1 billion.
Buenassa Resources is leading the development of DR Congo’s first integrated copper and cobalt refinery. A completed feasibility study pegs the cost of the project’s first phase at $600 million. By the end of 2027, the plant is expected to begin operations with an annual output of 30,000 tons of copper cathodes and 5,000 tons of cobalt sulfate. The long-term goal is to scale up to 120,000 tons of copper and 20,000 tons of cobalt per year.
Kipay Energy is spearheading the Sombwe hydropower project in Haut-Katanga. The facility will combine a hydroelectric station with a 46 MW solar component, for a total capacity of 166 MW and an estimated annual output of 967 GWh. The $500 million investment aims to reduce the province’s energy deficit by 10%, power 100,000 homes, support the production of 300,000 tons of copper, and create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
U.S firm Anzana Electric Group (AEG) has given its preliminary agreement to join the regional Ruzizi III hydropower project, following an invitation from Ruzizi III Holding Power Company Limited (RHPCL). The two parties signed an invitation agreement on June 24, 2025, during the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda. They committed to finalizing a legally binding partnership by September 15, 2025, according to a joint statement.
The forthcoming agreement will define governance rights, investment commitments, and long-term collaboration prospects. The statement also indicates that AEG could acquire at least 10% of RHPCL’s capital. This reflects a desire for Anzana to be not just an investor but also a stakeholder involved in the project’s strategic direction.
The Ruzizi III project, with an estimated cost of $760 million, involves constructing a 206 MW hydropower plant on the Ruzizi River, located between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. It is a public-private partnership bringing together RHPCL and the governments of the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. Each state holds a 10% stake in the project company, Ruzizi III Energy Limited (REL), while RHPCL is the majority shareholder with 70%.
RHPCL's current shareholders are SN Power, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), an entity of the Aga Khan Group. RHPCL's board members consider AEG's entry "strategic" due to the American company's expertise and experience. Anzana Electric Group is already active in Africa, particularly in Burundi, where it operates the Weza Power distribution project and two hydroelectric plants run by Songa Energy, with a combined capacity of 10.65 MW.
According to Africa Intelligence, the United States is actively supporting an American company's entry into Ruzizi III. Washington backed the project during the negotiation of the peace agreement signed on June 27, 2025, between the DRC and Rwanda, considering it among the confidence-building measures. This support could reassure certain donors whose commitments depend on the security situation in eastern DRC.
The Walungu territory in South Kivu, where the plant is to be built, is currently experiencing clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces and M23 rebels. This unstable context poses a direct threat to the project's implementation. Its financial close is expected by September 30, 2025.
Pierre Mukoko & Timothée Manoke
The Sucrière du Kivu (SUKI), a sugar company based in Kiliba in South Kivu’s Uvira territory, is asking for new financial support from the Congolese government despite receiving $5.9 million in public funds earlier this year. The funding included a $3 million loan and a $2.9 million grant. The information was disclosed by Minister of State Portfolio, Jean Lucien Bussa, during the Council of Ministers meeting held on July 4, 2025.
According to the meeting report, SUKI is seeking urgent government backing to secure essential funding for the 2024–2025 agricultural campaign. The goal is to prevent the loss of 1,400 hectares of mature sugarcane and ensure uninterrupted factory operations.
The harvest season, scheduled between July and September 2025, is seen as critical. To avoid any disruption, the minister also called for reinforced security measures for staff, equipment, and facilities. He further proposed appointing an interim management team to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of Super Group of Companies, SUKI’s private shareholder.
The Council of Ministers also tasked the Superior Council of State Portfolio (CSP) and the government auditor with carrying out a full audit of SUKI. This assessment will review current assets, financial commitments, and the private shareholder’s actual contribution. The audit is intended to lay the groundwork for a balanced capital restructuring, which could allow the state to gradually withdraw in favor of new strategic investors.
The report noted that the proposal was approved, although no timeline has been set for the planned actions.
SUKI was revived by the Congolese government after more than two decades of inactivity. According to the Ministry of Industry, the $5.9 million allocated in 2024 helped create 1,400 direct jobs—toward a target of 3,000—and expand sugarcane plantations to 700 hectares.
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
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The 115-kilometer Kisangani–Ubundu railway line in DR Congo’s Tshopo province is set to be rehabilitated under a project valued at $257 million. On July 4, 2025, Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba signed a concession contract with a consortium made up of South Korea’s Korea Engineering Consultants Corp (KECC) and Congolese partner Masco Énergies & Construction (MEC).
Few details were disclosed about the contract terms. MEC president Madua Masudi stated only that the works are set to begin by the end of July 2025 and will last 36 months. According to the Transport Ministry, Equity BCDC bank is expected to provide financial support, though specifics were not given.
The exact collaboration structure between KECC and MEC has not been clarified. KECC, founded in 1963, is a multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm offering services from feasibility studies to project management. The company has completed projects in Africa, Asia, and South America.
In contrast, little is known about MEC’s past track record. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Industry in November 2023 to build a cement plant in Maiko, also in Tshopo province. That plan includes constructing a 120 MW power plant to supply the cement factory, with surplus electricity intended for nearby communities. The initiative is part of DR Congo’s national industrialization master plan.
The Kisangani–Ubundu project marks the first phase of a broader plan to reconnect Kisangani to Kalemie via Ubundu, Kindu, and other strategic towns. The second phase, which will extend the rail from Ubundu to Kalemie, is still pending completion of technical studies. The government aims to strengthen national integration by establishing a continuous north–south railway corridor.
Passenger service on the Kisangani–Ubundu route has been suspended since 2019 due to operational challenges faced by the state-run railway company SNCC. The suspension was caused by aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and deteriorated rolling stock. Of the four locomotives purchased in 2016, only two remain operational.
Separately, in May 2025, the Congolese government launched an international call for expressions of interest to rehabilitate the rail network in the Uélé and Mongala provinces in the country’s northeast. The bid targets the 870-km Bumba–Aketi–Buta–Mungbere line, which uses a 0.60-meter track gauge and rail weights of 18, 23, and 33 kg/m.
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
Cement prices in Kindu, capital of the Maniema province, have fallen sharply following the arrival of a new shipment from the Société nationale des chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC). The city had faced several weeks of cement shortages, but the delivery of 530 tons from Ubundu (Tshopo) has helped ease the crisis.
Before the shipment, a 50 kg bag of gray cement was selling for as much as $50 on the local market. Since the boat docked, prices have dropped to around $35 to $36 per bag, representing a nearly 30% decrease. The price reduction is bringing relief to the construction sector in Kindu, which had been under pressure due to high material costs.
According to the Congolese Employers Federation (FEC), this shipment signals positive momentum for economic activity in the city. Raymond Ngadi Tshikunga, director of the SNCC's river-rail operations for Kindu–Maniema, told Radio Okapi that more deliveries are expected in the coming weeks. The vessel will return to Ubundu to transport additional goods.
This logistical operation also marks the reopening of the vital river corridor connecting Kindu to Ubundu, a key supply route for the city. SNCC has announced plans to run cargo rotations every 30 to 40 days, which could help ensure a more stable flow of goods to the area.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is moving ahead with preparatory work for the construction of a bridge over the Oubangui River, aimed at linking Zongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). During a site mission on July 3, 2025, alongside an AfDB delegation, Billy Tshibambe, head of the infrastructure unit, announced that while the project is still in its technical, legal, and institutional structuring phase, formal financing is expected in 2026.
The bridge is part of a broader multinational initiative coordinated by the AfDB. It also includes developing missing road links along the corridors from Bangui (CAR) to Kisangani (DRC) and Kampala (Uganda), and from Kisangani to Bujumbura (Burundi). The project aligns with the strategic Trans-African Highway (TAH) No. 8 (Lagos-Mombasa) and incorporates trade and transit facilitation measures, as well as the installation of one-stop border posts.
Preparatory studies for the various project components are estimated at $3.1 million. These were originally scheduled for completion in June 2024. For the bridge, the plan includes finalizing preliminary design studies (APS), detailed design studies (APD), bidding documents for contractor selection, and the appointment of construction oversight firms.
For the missing segments of the road corridors, APS studies are also required. A separate transport, trade, and transit facilitation study is planned, which includes the construction of one-stop border posts (PCUFs) between DRC, CAR, Burundi, and Uganda. A road safety and infrastructure preservation program is also under consideration.
Funding Awaits Technical, Environmental Reviews
At this stage, stakeholders from the DRC, CAR, Burundi, and Uganda are awaiting the completion of technical and environmental studies before any funding is mobilized. A steering committee will be established to oversee the project, working closely with relevant sectoral ministries, particularly the Ministry of Land Planning in the DRC.
This initiative also ties into a broader regional effort launched in June 2024, with the signing of a letter of intent between the Congolese government, the European Union, France, and several technical partners. The aim is to develop African Corridor No. 6 (Akula-Gemena-Zongo-Bangui), a 400-kilometer route designed to open up the Grand Équateur region and boost trade connectivity between the DRC and CAR.
Boaz Kabeya (Intern)