DRC Tax Authorities Seal KCC Facilities Amid Ongoing Tax Dispute With Glencore
DRC Tax Authorities Seal Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company Facilities as Tax Dispute Enters New Phase
he tax dispute between Glencore and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s tax authorities has entered a new phase after the country’s General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) sealed several facilities operated by Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), the mining group’s subsidiary in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province.
According to multiple local media reports, the enforcement action took place on 9 July 2026 as part of the DGI’s efforts to recover taxes it says are owed by Glencore’s Congolese subsidiaries.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show court bailiffs entering the KCC site while personnel were evacuated from parts of the operation.
Neither the DGI nor KCC has issued a detailed statement on the scope of the action or its immediate operational impact.
Reports from local media indicate that activities at the affected facilities may have been suspended, although the extent of the disruption and any impact on mining, processing or export operations have not been officially confirmed.Amount in Dispute Remains Unclear
The value of the tax dispute has not been officially confirmed.
Some local media outlets have reported that the disputed tax liabilities amount to nearly US$3 billion, while other sources familiar with the matter estimate the claim could exceed US$6 billion.
In the absence of an official figure from either the DGI or Glencore, the amount remains unverified.
Dispute Follows Months of Negotiations
The enforcement action follows several months of discussions between the Congolese tax administration and Glencore’s subsidiaries, including Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda Mining.
According to sources familiar with the matter, recovery proceedings had previously been suspended while both sides explored the possibility of reaching a negotiated settlement.
Those efforts reportedly did not produce an agreement, prompting the tax authorities to resume enforcement measures under Congolese tax legislation.
The DGI alleges that Glencore’s Congolese operations understated export transfer prices and used cross-border commercial arrangements that reduced the taxable income declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Glencore has disputed those allegations. According to statements cited by several media outlets, the company maintains that the dispute remains subject to legal proceedings and says it continues to engage with the Congolese authorities.
Follows Earlier Tax Settlement
The latest dispute comes only months after another tax-related case involving Glencore was resolved.
In April 2026, the company reached a settlement with the Congolese government, paying US$60 million to resolve a dispute linked to insurance-related tax claims.
That settlement concluded a separate matter and is not directly connected to the current proceedings involving KCC.
Potential Implications for Copper Production
Kamoto Copper Company is one of Glencore’s largest mining operations and a major producer of copper and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Earlier this year, Glencore announced a land agreement with Gécamines, providing access to additional mineralised areas intended to support the long-term expansion of KCC.
The company has previously indicated that the project could increase annual copper production to approximately 300,000 metric tonnes.
Glencore has guided for global copper production of between 810,000 and 870,000 metric tonnes in 2026. In 2025, KCC and Mutanda Mining together produced approximately 247,800 metric tonnes of copper, representing a significant share of the group’s overall copper output.
The extent to which the current enforcement action could affect production will depend on several factors, including the duration of the sealing order, whether critical operations continue, inventory availability and the progress of discussions between the company and the tax authorities.
Beyond its implications for Glencore, the dispute is being closely watched because of KCC’s importance to the Congolese mining sector.
The operation is one of the country’s largest industrial copper and cobalt mines and is a major contributor to employment, exports and government revenue in Lualaba Province.
As a result, the outcome of the case may have implications for both public revenue collection and the continuity of one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most significant mining operations.
The matter remains ongoing, and neither the DGI nor Glencore has announced whether further negotiations are planned. Until additional information becomes available, the operational and financial consequences of the dispute remain uncertain.
DRC tax authorities have sealed several Kamoto Copper Company facilities as an ongoing tax dispute with Glencore escalates.
The value of the disputed tax claims and the operational impact have yet to be officially confirmed.
