DRC Achieves Milestone with First Local Export of Germanium Concentrate
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to make its first export of locally processed germanium concentrate, produced in Lubumbashi by Société Terril de Lubumbashi (STL), a subsidiary of Gécamines.
Germanium is a strategic metal crucial for various high-tech applications, including aerospace, optical technologies, and space exploration.
According to a press release from Gécamines obtained by DESKECO, the inaugural batch of concentrated germanium will be shipped this week to Umicore, a Belgium-based mining company, for further processing and utilization in advanced technological applications.
Previously, STL relied on a refiner to bring germanium to market, but this time, the company has taken the initiative to handle the processing independently.
Gécamines’ president, Guy Robert Lukama, highlighted this achievement as a significant milestone in the transformation of strategic metals, enhancing the DRC’s geostrategic position.
“With the production of germanium at STL, we are becoming a major player in the global production of this strategic metal, positioning the DRC favorably in its relationships with international partners,” Lukama stated.
This success is not solely attributed to STL; the company benefited from the expertise and support of Umicore, thanks to a technological and commercial partnership established in May 2024.
Umicore’s experts assisted STL personnel in setting up the germanium processing circuit, facilitating a smoother transition to local production.
“With their support on-site, along with their human and industrial resources in Belgium, our team is rapidly advancing in mastering various metal technologies, making us almost unique in the world for this specific metal,” remarked Grant Dempsey, general manager of STL.
Buoyed by this success, Gécamines aims for STL to also produce other valuable minerals found in Lubumbashi, including gallium, cobalt, zinc, lithium, tin, cadmium, and coltan in the near future.
