DRC Advances Hydro-Metallurgical Copper and Cobalt Refinery Project in Lualaba Province
DRC and Buenassa Resources Partner on Copper and Cobalt Refinery in Lualaba Province
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advancing a major hydro-metallurgical copper and cobalt refinery project in Lualaba Province, following high-level discussions between the Mining Cadastre and Buenassa Resources Sarl.
On Tuesday, March 17, Mr. Popol Mabolia, Director General of the Mining Cadastre, met with Mr. Eddy Kioni, Director General of Buenassa Resources Sarl, to discuss the project within the framework of the broader DRC-United States strategic partnership on critical minerals.
Buenassa Resources Sarl is spearheading the initiative to establish a state-of-the-art refinery for copper and cobalt in the region, a project of strategic importance to both the DRC and international partners, particularly the United States.
According to a press release from the Mining Cadastre, Buenassa Resources, in consultation with Bara Consulting, has completed a scoping study and selected the preferred site for the refinery, which has been officially validated.
This large-scale project enjoys direct support from the Congolese state, which has held a 10% equity stake in Buenassa Resources Sarl since June 2025.
The Mining Cadastre, responsible for managing mining titles and the country’s mining domain, is providing the necessary cadastral security to ensure smooth implementation of the strategic infrastructure.
The refinery project is a cornerstone of the DRC-US strategic partnership, signed in late 2025.
The agreement aims to secure U.S. access to critical minerals including cobalt, copper, lithium, and coltan while simultaneously promoting local processing and value addition in the DRC.
The historic partnership also includes investments in mining infrastructure, modernization of the sector, and security cooperation to combat illegal mining activities.
By fostering local processing of critical minerals, the DRC seeks to strengthen its role in the global supply chain while creating jobs and promoting sustainable industrial growth.
The Lualaba refinery represents a key milestone in this effort, aligning economic development with international collaboration and strategic mineral security.
