Louis Watum Strengthened Sino-Congolese Mining Ties During Official Mission to China
DRC’s Minister of Mines Louis Watum Deepened Mining Cooperation with China’s Zijin Group During Beijing Mission
Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba carried out an official mission to Beijing, the capital of China, from October 24, 2025. According to the Ministry of Mines, the visit aimed to strengthen mining cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and China.
At the invitation of Zijin Mining Group—the world’s third-largest mining company—the minister undertook a field visit to China on October 25 and 26, 2025.
He was accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cominière, members of his cabinet, and representatives of the DRC’s diplomatic mission in China.
The mission allowed Minister Watum to visit Zijin Mining Group’s facilities, one of the DRC’s key partners in mining development. Valued at over USD 100 billion on the stock market, Zijin Mining Group is renowned for its expertise in producing and processing strategic metals such as copper, gold, and rare metals.
Already active in the DRC through the Kamoa-Kakula, COMUS, and Manono projects—in partnership with Cominière—the company reaffirmed its commitment to continue and expand its investments in the country.
These commitments included developing transport infrastructure, modernizing ports, and promoting local processing of natural resources on Congolese soil.
Minister Watum welcomed Zijin’s renewed commitment to local value addition and the sustainable development of the national mining sector—an approach strongly supported by the current Congolese government.
According to the Ministry of Mines’ communications department, the collaboration between Zijin Mining and Cominière, particularly through Katamba Mining, had already produced tangible results.
It enabled the recommissioning of the Mpiana-Mwanga hydroelectric power plant, which became operational following an investment exceeding USD 80 million. The partners also announced plans to increase the plant’s capacity to 108 MW.
Prior to the field visit, Minister Watum met with Guan Zhiyou, China’s Minister of Natural Resources, on the sidelines of the 27th China Mining Congress & Expo 2025 held in Tianjin on October 24. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations in the mining sector.
This encounter formed part of the DRC’s broader strategy to diversify its mining partnerships and consolidate cooperation with key technical and economic partners.
Discussions centered on several priority areas, including geological research and resource mapping, training and capacity building, promotion of responsible and sustainable investments, local mineral processing, and the development of the Sino-African cooperation platform.
Following these exchanges, Minister Watum invited Chinese investors to establish operations within the Musompo Special Economic Zone in Kolwezi, dedicated to the local processing and development of natural resources.
He emphasized that all investments in the DRC must comply with the 2018 Mining Code and its accompanying regulations, ensuring responsible, transparent, and beneficial exploitation for the Congolese people.
For his part, His Excellency Guan Zhiyou praised the strength of the Sino-Congolese partnership and reaffirmed the Chinese Government’s commitment to pursuing sustainable, balanced, and mutually beneficial cooperation, grounded in respect for national laws and bilateral agreements.
