Dowstone Technology to Invest $165 Million in New Copper Smelter in DRC
Dowstone Technology Plans $165M Copper Smelter in DRC, Boosting China’s Copper Refining Capacity
Chinese battery materials firm Dowstone Technology announced on July 3, 2025, its intention to build a state-of-the-art copper smelting facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The planned investment of $165 million aims to create a plant capable of producing 30,000 tons of copper cathodes annually.
Construction is expected to span 18 months, pending regulatory approvals from both the DRC and China.
This new smelter is poised to further solidify China’s expanding influence in the refined copper sector within the DRC.
Over recent years, several Chinese enterprises have increasingly invested in local copper processing to add value to raw materials extracted from the mineral-rich Congolese mines.
Dowstone is already an established player in the region, operating cathode production units with an annual output surpassing 60,000 tons as of late 2024.
Other notable Chinese ventures include China Nonferrous Mining Corporation (CNMC), which runs the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
Commissioned in 2020, the Lualaba facility has a copper processing capacity of 100,000 tons per year, showcasing the growing depth of Chinese investment in the DRC’s mining sector.
Meanwhile, major Chinese companies Zijin Mining and CITIC Metal have secured long-term agreements with Canadian miner Ivanhoe Mines to purchase 80% of the output from the Kamoa-Kakula smelter, set to launch in September 2025.
With a planned capacity of 500,000 tons annually, this will become Africa’s largest copper smelter. Z
ijin Mining holds a significant 39.6% stake in the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex, reinforcing its strategic involvement.
China’s increasing investment in the DRC’s copper refining industry underscores the deepening economic ties between the two nations.
In 2024, the DRC exported 1.48 million tons of refined copper to China—a staggering 71% increase compared to the previous year.
As the world’s largest consumer of strategic minerals, China depends heavily on stable supply chains, with the DRC standing as Africa’s top copper producer and the world’s second largest overall.
However, the DRC government is actively seeking to diversify its mining partnerships beyond China. Marcellin Paluku, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Mines, expressed concerns that Chinese firms operate approximately 80% of Congolese mines, posing potential economic risks due to over-dependence.
To address this, Kinshasa is exploring partnerships with other global players, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, to broaden its investment base.
How this strategic diversification will affect future Chinese investments in the DRC remains to be seen.
SOURCE:bankable.africa
