DR Congo partially lifts suspension on copper-cobalt processing after compliance review

Published: Jan 9, 2026 11:47

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KINSHASA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a partial and temporary lifting of the suspension on copper and cobalt processing activities, following the completion of a compliance review in the southeastern mineral-rich Lualaba Province, the DRC Ministry of Mines said Monday.

The suspension imposed by the ministry on Dec. 19, 2025, halted the mining and commercialization activities of all processing entities sourcing minerals from artisanal copper and cobalt production nationwide on a preventive basis.

According to the ministry, after the suspension was introduced, a special commission established on Dec. 26 has completed its compliance control mission in Lualaba Province. The commission worked through three sub-commissions focusing on administrative and legal issues, technical compliance, and mineral traceability. Based on the commission's preliminary conclusions, the ministry decided to partially and temporarily lift the suspension for mineral processing entities operating exclusively in Lualaba.

For the neighboring Haut-Katanga Province, the ministry said that pending the outcome of ongoing inspections, processing entities are authorized to receive minerals currently stockpiled at legally recognized or tolerated artisanal mining sites under the supervision of provincial mining authorities.

The ministry said the measures form part of broader efforts to clean up the mineral supply chain and ensure compliance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development due diligence standards and the national mineral traceability framework.

The Dec. 19 suspension was introduced amid concerns that some processing entities were sourcing minerals from industrial mining areas without authorization, a practice authorities said has fueled the encroachment of artisanal miners onto industrial concessions and contributed to widespread illegal transactions in the copper-cobalt sector.

The ministry stressed that the definitive lifting or continuation of the suspension will depend on whether each processing entity effectively regularizes its situation in line with official notifications.

Source: https://english.news.cn/20260106/785f0421b9c44b2dbe6a4534311d5adb/c.html

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