DRC Adds Six Mineral Categories to Strategic Mineral List

[Tungsten News Flash] SMM June 5: On May 29 local time, the DRC Council of Ministers reviewed and approved a special decree, officially incorporating six mineral categories—lithium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, uranium, and rare earths—into the national strategic minerals list.

According to the relevant provisions of the DRC's current Mining Code, strategic minerals are subject to a royalty rate of 10%, while the base royalty rate for ordinary non-ferrous metals is 3.5%. After the new policy takes effect, the royalty costs for local mining enterprises involved in newly designated strategic minerals such as lithium and tungsten will increase to nearly three times the original level.

This expansion of the catalog is a significant implementation measure by the country to optimize critical minerals revenue distribution and strengthen control over domestic strategic resources. The policy will be officially implemented through a cabinet enforcement decree.