DR Congo opens first gold refinery

March 13, 2026

The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened its first gold refining facility, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to capture greater value from its vast mineral wealth. The move, a departure from the traditional model of raw extraction, places Congo alongside a growing number of African nations pushing back against decades of extraction-without-development patterns. Across the continent, governments are actively courting foreign investment to build refining and manufacturing capacity. This shift comes at a critical time when international powers, including China and the US, are vying for influence over Africa’s resources. As one UN official noted, Africa will only truly benefit from its mineral wealth when it builds the regional infrastructure and value chains needed to convert it into shared prosperity. Congo’s new refinery is a meaningful, if early, step in that direction.

Source: https://africa.com/dr-congo-opens-first-gold-refinery/