DRC-Africa Forum: Professor Kanda Urges Local Refining to Unlock DRC’s Mineral Potential

Local mineral refining is essential for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to enhance its economy, drive industrial development, and solidify its sovereignty as a mineral-rich nation.

This was the core message delivered by Professor Jean-Marie Kanda on September 17, 2024, during a panel on the development of the DRC-Zambia special economic zone, held at the DRC-Africa Forum.

When asked about the timeline for the next battery production, Professor Kanda emphasized the immediate focus should be on refining critical minerals like cobalt and lithium.

“Right now, I’m working to ensure we have the first cobalt and lithium refinery in the DRC,” he stated. He stressed that refining is the crucial first step for attracting investment and industrializing the country’s vast resources.

Kanda estimates that the refining process will take about two years. “We need to refine the metals we produce here, particularly cobalt, which is abundant.

Copper should also be highlighted, as it is the backbone of all battery cells,” he explained. While the refining process may take two years, the professor cautioned that the entire project is complex and requires significant resources, making it difficult to predict exact timelines.

A major challenge facing the DRC, according to experts at the panel, is the lack of advanced technologies and skilled human capital necessary to compete on a global scale. Professor Kanda stressed that having natural resources alone is not enough.

The DRC must also develop the technologies and skills required to certify its strategic mineral reserves. He argued that local refining of these minerals is crucial to attracting investment and certification companies from countries like the United States.

A World Bank study on Africa’s mining sector highlights the economic potential of local mineral refining in the DRC. In 2022, the mining sector accounted for 30% of the DRC’s GDP and 90% of its exports.

Refining minerals like cobalt locally could multiply their value by two to ten times. For instance, refined cobalt is worth around $80,000 per tonne, compared to $40,000 for raw ore.

By building local refining infrastructure, experts believe the DRC could reduce its dependence on countries like China, which currently refines over 80% of the world’s cobalt.

This shift would not only create thousands of skilled jobs but also boost tax revenues, strengthening the DRC’s economic independence.