DRC Expands List of Strategic Minerals to Include Lithium, Uranium and Tungsten
DRC Updates Strategic Minerals Policy to Reflect Global Critical Raw Material Demand
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has approved an expansion of its list of strategic mineral substances, following the validation of a draft decree by the Council of Ministers on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Kinshasa. The proposal was presented by Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba.
The new decree supplements Decree No. 18/042 of November 24, 2018, which originally designated cobalt, germanium, and coltan (columbite-tantalite) as strategic minerals.
The revision reflects evolving international market conditions, rising demand for critical raw materials, and their growing importance in advanced technologies and the nuclear energy sector.
Under the updated framework, the list of strategic minerals has been expanded to include tantalum, niobium, tungsten, lithium, uranium, and rare earth elements.
Government officials stated that the objective of the reform is to align national mineral policy with global demand trends and to strengthen the country’s capacity to derive greater economic value from its vast mineral resources.
The decision is also intended to position the DRC more strategically within global supply chains for critical minerals, which are increasingly essential for energy transition technologies, industrial manufacturing, and high-tech applications.
