DRC Targets 600kg of Monthly Gold Refining Capacity at New Kalemie Facility
DRC’s Kalemie Gold Refinery Targets 600kg Monthly Capacity to Boost Local Mineral Processing
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advancing its mineral beneficiation strategy through a gold refinery in Kalemie, Tanganyika Province, capable of processing up to 600 kilogrammes of gold per month.
The facility, known as DRC Gold Refinery, represents a significant step towards increasing domestic gold processing, reducing illegal mineral exports and strengthening the country’s ability to retain more value from its mineral resources.
Established through a partnership between state-owned DRC Gold Trading SA and Tanzania-based Lunga Mining SARL, the refinery processes artisanal gold into bullion bars with a purity level of 99.9%.
The refined gold is intended to support the Central Bank of Congo’s efforts to strengthen national gold reserves.
Kalemie Refinery Targets 7.2 Tonnes of Gold Annually
Officially inaugurated on March 11, 2026, the Kalemie refinery is designed to progressively increase its processing capacity, beginning with an initial target of 50 kilogrammes of gold per month.
At full capacity, the facility is expected to process between 500 and 600 kilogrammes monthly, equivalent to approximately 6 to 7.2 tonnes annually.
These figures represent projected processing capacity rather than confirmed production volumes.
The refinery is expected to strengthen the country’s formal gold supply chain by providing artisanal miners with a regulated platform for selling and processing their production.
By refining gold locally, the Government aims to improve traceability, reduce smuggling and capture additional economic value that would otherwise be generated through overseas processing.
Government Plans Additional Gold Refineries
According to Joseph Maombi Kazibaziba, Director General of DRC Gold Refinery, the Kalemie facility forms part of a broader government strategy to expand gold refining infrastructure across the country.
Plans are underway to establish additional facilities in the Grand Kivu, Grande Orientale and Grand Kasaï regions, with a larger national refinery eventually planned for Kinshasa.
Meanwhile, DRC Gold Trading SA is targeting annual gold collection volumes of between 15 and 18 tonnes as part of efforts to strengthen the formal gold trading industry.
The expansion programme is expected to bring refining facilities closer to major gold-producing areas while encouraging artisanal miners to participate in regulated supply chains.
DRC Strengthens Local Mineral Beneficiation
The development aligns with the DRC Government’s broader efforts to promote domestic mineral processing and reduce dependence on exporting unprocessed mineral resources.
Despite being one of Africa’s major mineral-producing countries, the DRC continues to face challenges involving illegal gold trading, limited traceability and insufficient local processing infrastructure.
The Kalemie refinery is expected to help address some of these challenges by strengthening oversight of artisanal gold production and improving the country’s ability to process its mineral resources domestically.
The project also presents opportunities for employment creation, technical skills development and increased government revenue.
However, achieving its full processing capacity will depend on securing consistent gold supplies, strengthening regulatory oversight and attracting more artisanal production into formal trading channels.
As the DRC continues to expand its mineral beneficiation industry, the Kalemie refinery could provide a foundation for further investment in domestic gold processing and value addition.
