DRC Mines Minister Urges Zambian Suppliers to Tap into US$80 Billion Mining Market
DRC Mines Minister Louis Kabamba Calls for Stronger Zambia-DRC Mining Supply Chain Partnerships
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has called on Zambian mining suppliers, manufacturers and contractors to partner with Congolese businesses to supply goods and services to its mining industry, in a move aimed at strengthening regional trade, promoting local content and retaining more mineral wealth within Africa.
Speaking at the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka 2026 in Lusaka, DRC Minister of Mines Louis Kabamba said the two countries should leverage Zambia’s growing manufacturing capacity to meet demand from the Congolese mining sector rather than relying heavily on supplies from overseas markets.
Kabamba said the DRC’s mining industry offered significant opportunities for Zambian businesses, citing an estimated US$80 billion market for goods and services required by mining companies in the country.
He questioned why mining operations should continue importing essential supplies from distant markets when manufacturers within the region could produce them.
“Why should we import them from China or from the Pacific if we can do that locally or regionally? That’s the type of co-operation we need so that we can create value,” he said.
The DRC, the world’s largest cobalt producer and one of its leading copper producers, plays a significant role in supplying critical minerals used in the energy transition and advanced manufacturing.
Strengthening Regional Supply Chains
Kabamba said Zambia and the DRC shared closely interconnected economies, supported by mineral deposits and industrial activity that extend across their common border.
He called for stronger cross-border cooperation, greater exchange of technical expertise and practical solutions to challenges affecting mining operations in both countries.
He said collaboration should extend beyond mineral extraction to include local manufacturing, energy supply, financial frameworks and the development of regional value chains.
Kabamba also urged mining industry associations in Zambia and the DRC to engage more frequently to exchange experiences, share best practices and identify opportunities for cooperation.
He said stronger regional partnerships could improve the investment environment while enabling local businesses and communities to capture greater economic benefits from mining.
Moving Beyond Raw Mineral Exports
Kabamba warned that African countries needed to move away from a model centred on exporting raw minerals and importing finished products, arguing that the approach limited local employment and value creation.
“We cannot keep on operating in a pit-to-port model we inherited from colonial times, where we only capture only 10 per cent of the value chain, exporting our jobs and our profits,” he said.
He also called for faster progress in developing battery-grade materials and participating in the electric vehicle battery value chain. He said the joint Zambia-DRC battery value chain initiative remained on course despite delays.
The minister added that the DRC was targeting copper production of approximately 3.5 million tonnes in 2026, while emphasising that production volumes should not be the sole measure of the mining sector’s success.
“The point is not about the big toys we are pushing. The point is about how much value we are capturing for our people, how much impact we are making for our people in terms of schools, hospitals and infrastructure,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s acting Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Gilbert Siame, said African countries needed to view one another as partners rather than competitors.
He said the development of stronger regional markets, efficient regulatory frameworks, reliable energy supplies and improved infrastructure would be essential to expanding local value addition and strengthening the continent’s participation in mining supply chains.
The calls from both countries underscored the importance of closer regional cooperation to develop local industries, expand cross-border trade and ensure that a greater share of the economic benefits generated by Africa’s mineral resources remains within the continent.
