DRC’s Gécamines Buys 100,000 Tonnes of Copper from Tenke Fungurume
Gécamines Launches Copper Trading Operations with Landmark Purchase from Tenke Fungurume
Congo’s state-owned mining company, Gécamines, announced on Monday that it has exercised its contractual right to purchase 100,000 tonnes of copper from the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) operation, majority-owned by China’s CMOC.
The transaction represents 20 per cent of TFM’s annual copper output, in line with Gécamines’ equity stake in the mine.
According to Gécamines, deliveries will be spread throughout the year, with the copper volumes destined for export to the United States market.
The company said the sales align with recent cooperation agreements between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States and support the government’s broader strategy to strengthen economic sovereignty and deepen participation in global metals markets.
To support the transaction, Gécamines has selected Swiss commodities trading group Mercuria as a strategic partner. Mercuria will provide financial, logistical, and technical support to facilitate the execution of the deal and help build Gécamines’ commercial trading capabilities.
The purchase marks the official launch of Gécamines Trading, a new commercial arm aimed at giving the DRC greater control over the marketing and sale of its mineral production.
For decades, Congolese metals have largely been marketed by third parties. This initiative signals a decisive shift toward direct market participation, buyer diversification, and increased value retention within the country.
Gécamines described the transaction as a milestone in the implementation of President Félix Tshisekedi’s vision for enhanced economic sovereignty and transparency in the management of strategic natural resources.
The company said the move reflects ongoing reforms designed to expand the DRC’s influence across the global copper and critical minerals value chain.
Looking ahead, Gécamines plans to scale up its trading operations significantly. With Mercuria’s support, the company is targeting annual trading volumes of up to 500,000 tonnes of copper and 40,000 tonnes of cobalt in the coming years, positioning itself as an emerging global player in critical minerals.
Gécamines said the initiative is not merely a commercial transaction but a strategic instrument aimed at promoting national renewal, strengthening governance, and ensuring that greater value from the country’s mineral wealth benefits the Congolese people.
