DRC Showcases Mining Potential at Future Minerals Forum 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) made a significant presence at the 4th edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2025, held from January 14 to 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With a delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Mines, Mr. Marcellin Paluku, and including key figures such as Popol MABOLIA YENGA, Director General of the Mining Cadastre (CAMI), the DRC highlighted its strategic role in the global mining sector.
The FMF, with over 20,000 participants from governments, businesses, investors, and research institutes, served as a platform to address the critical challenges and opportunities facing the mining sector.
Under the theme “Year of Impact,” the forum focused on the growing demand for minerals that are essential for the global energy transition, such as lithium, manganese, and cobalt—resources in which the DRC has a major industrial advantage.
Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is leveraging the forum to propel its energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The country recognizes the importance of strategic minerals in this shift and is looking to countries like the DRC, which possess vast reserves of these essential materials, to play a key role in the future of energy production.
The event featured several critical sessions that underscored the global importance of strategic minerals. Among the notable highlights was the 4th Ministerial Roundtable on Minerals, which saw over 100 government representatives and 50 international organizations collaborating to align public policies with industrial goals. The roundtable aimed to develop comprehensive strategies for advancing the mining sector globally.
Another key event was the 2nd Meeting of the International Geological Surveys, which brought together the directors general of geological surveys worldwide.
This meeting focused on strengthening partnerships and cooperation in the exploration and mapping of mineral resources.
Additionally, the forum hosted the First Regional Roundtables, concentrating on Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America. These discussions encouraged mineral supplier nations to unite and promote a global movement centered around the importance of strategic minerals in the energy transition.
The DRC’s involvement in FMF 2025 further emphasizes its critical position in the global mining industry. As the world transitions toward renewable energy, the DRC’s vast reserves of cobalt, lithium, and manganese make it an indispensable player in supplying these vital resources.
This forum provided an important platform for the DRC to showcase its potential, strengthen international partnerships, and advance its mining sector.
This event also signals the Gulf countries’ growing ambition, particularly Saudi Arabia, to solidify their place in the global energy transition by securing access to the minerals needed for a sustainable future.
With such significant participation, the DRC is poised to enhance its role in the global mining market, supporting the world’s energy transition while fostering economic growth at home.
