Congo Orders Cobalt Miners to Give Up Unused Export Quotas

Published: Jun 29, 2026 23:49
On 29 June, ARECOMS (the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances' Markets) announced that all cobalt export quotas allocated for the first half of 2026 that remain unused as of 30 June 2026 will be deemed forfeited and reclaimed. These unused volumes will be transferred to ARECOMS' strategic quota pool for reallocation by the regulator. This means that mining companies will no longer be allowed to retain unused export quotas, further strengthening the government's control over the pace of cobalt exports. It remains unclear how much of the overall 2026 export quota has yet to be utilized and which companies will be most significantly affected.

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