[SMM Analysis] DRC Issued Detailed Rules for Carrying Forward Unused Quotas

Published: Apr 1, 2026 09:17

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Recently, ARECOMS of the DRC announced the detailed implementation rules for carrying forward unfulfilled quotas. Pursuant to Resolution No. 005/ARECOMS/2025 dated October 10, 2025, in order to ensure the consistent and transparent implementation of export quotas, the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances (ARECOMS) hereby notified the relevant mineral business entities and public administrative departments of the final detailed rules for carrying forward unfulfilled quotas during the period from October 16 to December 31, 2025, as well as the detailed rules for carrying forward approved quotas for Q1 2026. The original text was translated as follows: The English translation of the above text is:

I. Final Carryover of Quotas Approved from October 16 to December 31, 2025

1. For quotas approved during the period from October 16 to December 31, 2025, business entities that did not fully utilize them must complete the quota write-off procedures for that batch by April 30, 2026.

2. Any quota volume from the period October 16 to December 31, 2025 that remained unused as of April 30, 2026 shall, in accordance with Article 2.9 of Announcement No. 2025/005 dated October 10, 2025, be deemed invalid and automatically transferred to the strategic quota pool for reallocation.

II. Carryover of Quotas Approved in Q1 2026

1. The total annual quota for 2026 that had been formally notified to each business entity remained valid.

2. The execution period for quotas approved in Q1 2026 was extended to June 30, 2026, and such quotas may be executed concurrently with quotas approved during the period from April 1 to June 30, 2026.

III. Reiteration of Penalty Provisions

The Strategic Minerals Regulatory and Control Authority reserved the right to revoke the initially approved quotas of enterprises engaging in any of the following acts:

a) processing mine tailings and/or concentrates supplied by third parties, or processing minerals sourced from artisanal mining (except for Générale du Cobalt and the Lubumbashi Slag Company, which may process the relevant products in accordance with their own export quotas);

b) transferring their own quotas to other enterprises;

c) failing to complete exports in accordance with the approved quota volume;

d) violating applicable laws and regulations.

All of the above measures officially took effect on March 31, 2026.

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