DRC Seeks Stronger Investment Partnerships With Major Mining Companies
DRC Calls on Glencore, CMOC and Ivanhoe to Expand Mining Investments and Boost Production
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is seeking to deepen partnerships with major international mining companies operating in the country to expand production and attract new investment.
The initiative was announced by the country’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, during meetings with mining industry stakeholders in Toronto, Canada, last week.
Strategy to Boost Investment and Production
Through this initiative, the Congolese government aims to encourage mining companies to increase capital investments, expand or modernize their facilities, and scale up mineral production.
Authorities say the strategy is designed to strengthen economic growth, increase government revenues, and create more employment opportunities in the mining sector, which remains the backbone of the country’s economy.
Mining Sector Performance
Despite ongoing security challenges in eastern parts of the country, the government says the mining sector continues to perform strongly.
Annual copper production in the DRC now exceeds 3 million tonnes, confirming the country’s position as one of the world’s leading producers of the metal.
The price of cobalt has also surged significantly in recent months, rising from about $20,000 per tonne in November to around $55,000 per tonne, following corrective measures implemented by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS).
Meanwhile, market prices for gold and copper are currently estimated at approximately $165.84 per gram and $12,877.50 per tonne, respectively.
Key Mining Partners
The government is particularly focused on strengthening partnerships with three major mining companies operating in the country:
- Glencore
- CMOC Group
- Ivanhoe Mines
Glencore
The Swiss mining giant operates the Mutanda Mine and Kamoto Copper Company in the DRC, both of which produce copper and cobalt.
In 2025, these operations produced approximately 247,800 tonnes of copper, representing nearly 29% of Glencore’s global copper output, and about 35,100 tonnes of cobalt, accounting for more than 97% of the company’s total cobalt production.
Global copper production from Glencore is projected to reach between 810,000 and 870,000 tonnes in 2026, supported by ongoing expansion initiatives.
CMOC Group
China’s CMOC Group operates two major mining assets in the DRC: the Tenke Fungurume Mine and the Kisanfu Mine.
In 2025, Tenke Fungurume produced approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper and 20,000 tonnes of cobalt.
During the first half of 2025 alone, CMOC produced 61,073 tonnes of cobalt in the DRC and expects its annual cobalt output to reach between 100,000 and 120,000 tonnes in 2026, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest cobalt producer.
Ivanhoe Mines
Canadian company Ivanhoe Mines operates the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, one of the world’s fastest-growing copper operations.
In 2025, the complex produced 388,838 tonnes of copper, and the company expects annual production to range between 380,000 and 420,000 tonnes.
Expected Economic Impact
The Congolese government believes that expanding collaboration with these global mining groups will help attract additional investment, stimulate economic growth, and increase public revenue.
Minister Watum also highlighted several reforms currently underway in the sector, including improved governance, greater transparency, enhanced investment security, and the stabilization of the tax framework.
Other initiatives include the digitalization of mining administration and the development of special economic zones offering tax and administrative incentives aimed at attracting more industrial investment.
Through these reforms and partnerships, the government hopes to strengthen the mining sector’s role as a key driver of development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
