DRC and EU Launch Strategic Roadmap for Sustainable Development and Energy Transition
On an official visit to Belgium for Raw Materials Week, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba delivered a pivotal speech in Brussels on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
The event marked the official launch of the DRC-EU roadmap, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the DRC and the European Union on October 26, 2023.
In his address, Minister Pakabomba emphasized the importance of this strategic partnership, rooted in shared values of sustainability, transparency, and inclusive development.
He reaffirmed the DRC’s commitment to playing a central role in the global energy transition, leveraging its vast reserves of critical minerals like cobalt and lithium.
The roadmap outlines five key priorities:
- Sustainable Value Chains: Strengthening trade, investment links, and innovation to support collaborative and sustainable practices.
- Local Infrastructure: Promoting local mineral processing to maximize value addition within the DRC.
- Governance and Transparency: Ensuring fair resource management while adhering to international standards and human rights principles.
- Scientific and Technological Cooperation: Encouraging innovation and the transfer of expertise between the DRC and the EU.
- Capacity Building: Developing local talent and creating qualified jobs to ensure resources directly benefit Congolese citizens.
Aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, this roadmap aims to establish environmentally, socially, and governance-compliant (ESG) value chains while strengthening economic and social ties between the DRC and the EU.
Minister Pakabomba commended President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo for his governance reforms, which prioritize equitable resource management, and expressed gratitude to the EU for fostering a balanced partnership that respects mutual interests.
The launch of this roadmap marks a significant step forward in the DRC-EU collaboration, reflecting their shared ambition for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future.
The roadmap will serve as a framework for implementing projects that meet the aspirations of both Congolese and European citizens.
With its abundant strategic resources, the DRC is poised to become a cornerstone of the global energy transition. Through this partnership, the nation aims to transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring that its wealth primarily benefits its people.
The Ministry of Mines reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve the roadmap’s ambitious objectives and called for collective mobilization to ensure its success.
