• COUNTRY IN FOCUS
The Beijing meeting While Western nations focus on rail, China continues to dominate extraction. In March 2026, a meeting focused on " Mining 2.0 ", a shift toward local processing in the DRC was held in Beijing. CMC and its subsidiary, MMG, have committed to expanding the Kinsevere mine, targeting a ramp-up to 80 000 tonnes of copper cathode and 6 000 tonnes of cobalt annually by late 2026.
Kamoa-Kakula Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex remains the crown jewel of the Congolese mining sector. In December 2025, the project’ s on-site direct-to-blister smelter, the largest in Africa, produced its first copper anodes.
The Phase 4 expansion, which replicates the Phase 3 concentrator design, is on track for a formal start in late 2026. By smelting on-site, the project significantly reduces transport costs and carbon footprint, aligning with the DRC government ' s push for " green copper."
Manono Lithium The race for Congolese lithium is nearing a climax. The Manono Lithium Project, a joint venture between Zijin Mining( 54.9 %) and Cominière, is scheduled for commissioning on 30 June 2026. The DRC government views the USD1-billion investment as essential to breaking into the lithium-ion battery market. Once at full capacity, Manono is expected to produce 95 170 tonnes of lithium sulfate annually, positioning the DRC as a topfive global lithium player.
Export bans and traceability The cobalt market faced a tumultuous start to 2025, with prices hitting nine-year lows due to oversupply. In response, the Congolese government enacted a months-long suspension of cobalt exports in early 2025 to stabilise prices.
By March 2026, the focus has shifted to Traceability and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining( ASM) Reform. New regulations introduced in mid-2025 now strictly prohibit the mixing of artisanal ores with industrial production.
The 2027 outlook The DRC is currently in a state of high-velocity transformation. The combination of Western infrastructure investment( Lobito Corridor) and Eastern industrial dominance( Zijin, CMOC) has given Kinshasa unprecedented leverage.
The next 12 months will be defined by whether the Kamoa smelter and the Manono processing plant prove that the DRC can be an industrial hub. Will the ARSP’ s subcontracting push empower local firms or create bottlenecks for foreign investors? As Gécamines starts shipping directly to the US, how will Chinese partners react to losing control over their offtake?
The DRC is no longer just " the lungs of the world " via its rainforests; it is the " heart of the transition " via its subsoil. For investors, the message is clear: play by the new rules of local ownership and value addition, or risk being left behind at the port. •
16 • African Mining • June 2026 www. africanmining. co. za