DRC Mines Minister Launches Field Tour with Visit to Tenke Fungurume Mining
Congo Mines Minister Visits Tenke Fungurume to Address Challenges, Community Benefits, and Mining Code Compliance
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s new Minister of Mines, Louis Kabamba, has launched a nationwide field tour to better understand the operational realities of mining companies and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
The initiative follows a series of meetings with international partners—including China, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States—aimed at revitalizing the mining industry, a cornerstone of the Congolese economy.
As part of the tour, Kabamba paid an official visit on Friday, September 19, 2025, to Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), one of the DRC’s largest copper and cobalt producers, located in Lualaba Province.
TFM is home to the world’s largest known cobalt reserve, making it a strategic player in global energy and battery supply chains.
Welcomed by senior management, the Minister toured key facilities, including the Fungurume 9 open-pit mine and the 30K processing plant. The visit aimed to review operational processes, assess challenges faced by the company, and identify opportunities for stronger collaboration between government authorities and TFM.
Company representatives outlined several difficulties confronting their operations. In response, Kabamba pledged to engage directly in finding practical solutions. He also met with workers, underscoring their contribution to national value creation and encouraging them to remain active partners in the sector’s growth.
Kabamba praised TFM’s contribution to job creation, both directly and indirectly, as well as its investments in community development. He reminded stakeholders that the mining sector’s wealth must equitably benefit the state, companies, and local communities.
During discussions, the Minister raised two key issues: compliance with the 2018 Mining Code’s 0.3% mining allowance—an obligation some companies reportedly struggle to fulfill—and the need to address environmental degradation, which disproportionately affects local populations. These concerns were recently reinforced by the Minister of Justice during a government briefing.
Prior to the TFM visit, Kabamba met with general managers of several mining companies at the Kamoa Copper SA site in Lualaba. The meeting focused on addressing industry concerns, particularly the integration of community interests into mining strategies.
Two major recommendations emerged:
The creation of a monitoring committee tasked with implementing recommendations and developing an operational roadmap.
The establishment of periodic evaluations to measure progress and ensure effective implementation of sector resolutions.
Kabamba’s tour marks an early signal of the government’s intent to balance industrial productivity with environmental responsibility and equitable development. By directly engaging with companies and communities, the Minister aims to strengthen accountability and reinforce the DRC’s position as a leading supplier of critical minerals.
