The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrates with immediate effect, in a sweeping policy shift that forces major mining companies to process more minerals within the country’s borders.
The decree, announced by the Mines Ministry, targets partially processed ores that are typically shipped abroad for refining. Under the new rules, miners must now process concentrates domestically before export. A new tax system introduces a 55 percent valuation coefficient for mining by-products, with a three-month transition period for compliance.
The ban directly affects some of the world’s largest mining operations, including those run by Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines, CMOC, Huayou Cobalt, Zijin Mining and Eurasian Resources Group. The Mines Minister retains authority to grant one-year waivers for exports deemed strategically important, though criteria for those exemptions have not been detailed.
DR Congo supplies roughly 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, a critical mineral used in lithium-ion batteries for smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles. It is also the second-largest copper supplier globally. Together, the two metals form the backbone of the country’s extractive economy and a major source of government revenue.
The policy follows a broader wave of value-addition measures across the continent, with Nigeria, Zambia, Guinea and Zimbabwe all moving to restrict exports of unprocessed natural resources. Analysts say the trend reflects growing frustration among African governments that raw mineral wealth is exported while processing profits flow to foreign firms.
Mining industry representatives have warned that the ban could disrupt supply chains and deter investment if domestic refining capacity fails to keep pace with demand. The DRC currently has limited smelting and refining infrastructure, meaning companies would need to build or expand processing facilities to comply.
For Kinshasa, the move is framed as an economic sovereignty measure designed to keep more jobs and revenue within the Congolese economy. The government estimates that value addition through domestic processing could significantly boost export earnings and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The announcement comes as the global clean energy transition accelerates demand for cobalt and copper, giving the DRC unprecedented leverage over supply chains. How effectively the country manages the transition will determine whether the policy becomes a model for resource-rich African nations or a cautionary tale of overreach.
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