DRC Minister of Mines Meets CMOC to Review Production and Expand Investment Plans
CMOC Reports 700,000 Tonnes of Copper Output and Plans US$8 Billion Investment Expansion in the DRC
The Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Louis Watum Kabamba, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, received a delegation from China Molybdenum Company (CMOC), one of the country’s leading mining operators. CMOC is notably active in the DRC through the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) and Kisanfu Mining (KFM) projects.
The meeting, held as part of end-of-year courtesy engagements, provided an opportunity for the Chinese mining group to present its annual production report to the Minister.
During the discussions, CMOC announced an annual copper output of approximately 700,000 tonnes, reaffirming its position as a major contributor to the Congolese mining sector.
Beyond operational performance, the delegation revealed plans to increase the group’s total investment in the DRC to US$8 billion.
According to CMOC, this investment ambition reflects strong confidence in the DRC’s geological potential, as well as in the gradual improvement of the country’s business and investment climate.
The talks also addressed several operational challenges faced by the company, including persistent electricity shortages and the encroachment of artisanal miners into certain industrial mining concessions.
The CMOC delegation called for a coordinated and collaborative approach to these issues to ensure operational continuity and site security.
In response, Minister Watum assured the delegation that sustainable solutions are being developed in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. He also encouraged CMOC—whose mining operations in the DRC are estimated to have a lifespan of nearly 50 years—to prioritize investments in local power generation rather than relying primarily on electricity imports from Zambia or Angola.
The Minister further emphasized the importance of involving local communities in efforts to address the issue of mining site encroachment, while noting that government-led initiatives are already underway to curb the phenomenon.
Louis Watum Kabamba commended CMOC’s contribution to the national economy, highlighting its production volumes, fiscal revenues, job creation, and role in skills transfer.
He reaffirmed the Congolese government’s commitment to supporting and protecting credible investors, in strict compliance with the country’s legal and regulatory framework.
On geopolitical and strategic matters, the Minister reassured the Chinese delegation that recent cooperation agreements between the DRC and the United States do not undermine or threaten investors from other countries, including the People’s Republic of China. He reiterated the DRC’s commitment to open, balanced, and inclusive international partnerships.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Watum invited Chinese investors to advocate—both with their national authorities and within international institutions—for greater mobilization in support of protecting legitimate investments in the DRC.
He also called for stronger international condemnation of the ongoing insecurity in the eastern part of the country, which he described as a major factor undermining national economic activity.
