DRC Launches DRC Gold Trading SA Branch in Lubumbashi to Formalise Artisanal Gold Sector
DRC Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba Opens Lubumbashi Gold Trading Office to Curb Smuggling and Boost Official Exports
On an official visit to Haut-Katanga province, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, inaugurated a new regional branch of DRC Gold Trading SA in Lubumbashi on 26 February 2026.
DRC Gold Trading SA, a state-owned enterprise, has been mandated to combat fraud, illicit trade and smuggling in the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) sector.
The opening of the Lubumbashi branch is intended to strengthen state oversight in Haut-Katanga, a province with growing artisanal gold activity.
Formalising Artisanal Gold Supply Chains
Through the establishment of this regional office, authorities aim to channel artisanal gold production into the formal economy, improve traceability and align supply chains with international standards particularly those related to transparency and the prevention of conflict minerals.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by provincial authorities, including the Governor of Haut-Katanga, members of the provincial government and representatives of key state institutions.
In his remarks, Minister Watum Kabamba reaffirmed that, under Congolese law, artisanal mining is reserved exclusively for Congolese nationals.
He stressed the need to eliminate any unauthorised participation in the sector, while encouraging foreign investors to focus on industrial mining activities governed by the country’s established legal framework.
According to the minister, the initiative aligns with the broader economic vision of President Félix Tshisekedi and is being implemented under the coordination of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. The objective is to transform artisanal gold into a driver of economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
Strengthening National Reserves
The minister also welcomed a recently signed agreement between DRC Gold Trading SA and the Central Bank of the Congo. Under this partnership, a portion of officially traded artisanal gold will be directed toward strengthening national reserves, supporting monetary stability and enhancing foreign exchange management.
Earlier in February, the company described the first official export of artisanal gold from Haut-Katanga as a “historic first” for the province made possible by the operationalisation of the Lubumbashi branch.
For the 2026 financial year, DRC Gold Trading SA has set an export target of 15 tonnes of artisanal gold, with projected revenues exceeding US$2.6 billion to be repatriated through official state channels.
Authorities expect that improved structuring and oversight of the sector will significantly reduce revenue losses linked to smuggling and fraud, while increasing the share of mining income captured by the national treasury.
