Virtus Minerals to Restart Chemaf’s Cobalt and Copper Mines in the DRC After Regulatory Approval
US Firm Virtus Minerals Secures Regulatory Approval to Restart Chemaf Mines, Boosting DRC’s Cobalt and Copper Production
US-based Virtus Minerals announced it is moving to restart the Chemaf cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after securing full regulatory approval.
This marks the first acquisition of operating mines under the US–Congo minerals partnership, following a series of offtake agreements.
Virtus stated that its immediate focus will be on inventory verification, technical and operational assessments, and restart planning across Chemaf’s asset portfolio, with timelines dependent on the completion of these evaluations.
The DRC is the world’s top producer of cobalt and possesses vast reserves of copper and lithium, minerals essential for electric vehicles and the global energy transition.
The United States has been actively pursuing strategies to build its critical minerals stockpile and reduce dependence on China’s supply chains.
US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg confirmed that Kinshasa had approved the sale of Chemaf to Virtus under the bilateral minerals agreement between the two countries.
Virtus further stated that it had secured clearances from the mines ministry, the portfolio ministry, and the state-owned miner Gécamines, which holds the mining leases.
Reports indicate that some Gécamines executives were removed due to concerns they had obstructed the Chemaf transaction, though both Gécamines and the DRC mines ministry have not publicly commented.
Virtus emphasized that its priority is to stabilize Chemaf’s operations and support a responsible restart of production while planning for long-term growth beyond the Mutoshi and Étoile projects through Chemaf’s broader permit portfolio.
Maintaining workforce continuity will be central to the transition.
The company noted that it is too early to provide details on output targets, staffing levels, or capital expenditures, but it affirmed its commitment to long-term operational and strategic development of Chemaf’s mining assets.
