Tshisekedi Pushes to Secure Funding for Congolese Battery Council
DRC President Tshisekedi Orders Full Funding of Congolese Battery Council to Drive Local Battery Industry
At the 78th meeting of the Council of Ministers on February 13, 2026, Félix Tshisekedi placed the financing of the Congolese Battery Council (CCB) at the centre of government priorities, describing it as a critical instrument for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s economic transformation.
The President reiterated that the creation of the CCB reflects a strategic shift away from an exclusively extractive mining model toward the development of integrated value chains for critical minerals.
The initiative aims to position the country as a participant in higher-value segments of the global battery and electric vehicle supply chain.
Unlocking Greater Value from Mining
The Democratic Republic of the Congo currently generates more than $30 billion annually from its mining sector. However, international economic assessments referenced during the Council meeting indicate that introducing even first-stage local processing could potentially triple or quadruple sector revenues.
Further integration into advanced value chain segments including battery precursor materials and electric vehicle component manufacturing could significantly expand employment, fiscal revenues and macroeconomic resilience.
Funding Mechanism Not Implemented
Despite the strategic importance of the CCB, Tshisekedi noted that its financing mechanism has not been implemented in line with existing legal and regulatory provisions.
Under the establishing decree, 10% of the mining royalty allocated to the central government was designated as the Council’s primary funding source.
According to the President, this allocation has not been executed as предусмотрed, limiting the Council’s operational capacity.
The shortfall is viewed as particularly concerning given that the CCB serves as a central pillar of the DRC’s national strategy for critical minerals development.
Regional and International Backing
The battery initiative also benefits from international cooperation, notably a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022 between the DRC and Zambia, with support from the United States, to promote local production of batteries and electric vehicles.
This cross-border framework seeks to leverage the two countries’ combined mineral resources particularly copper and cobalt to develop regional manufacturing capacity.
Call for Immediate Action
In response to the funding gaps, Tshisekedi instructed the Prime Minister to coordinate all relevant ministries to ensure full implementation of the decree governing the CCB.
He called for urgent legal and administrative measures to guarantee the Council direct and effective access to its designated revenue stream, in accordance with Article 23 of its founding text.
The directive underscores the government’s determination to equip the Congolese Battery Council with the financial resources necessary to drive structural transformation and capture greater value from the country’s vast critical mineral wealth.
