Minerals Mined in Congo: Complete Guide to the DRC’s $24 Trillion Mining Industry (2026)

Minerals Mined in Congo: The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries on earth — a place geologists have called a “geological scandal” because its underground wealth, estimated at $24 trillion, remains so vastly underutilised.

From cobalt powering electric vehicle batteries to diamonds exported to global jewellery markets, the minerals mined in Congo shape industries on every continent.’

If you want to understand where the world’s critical raw materials come from, understanding Congo mining is non-negotiable.

This comprehensive guide covers the six major minerals mined in the DRC, with the latest 2026 production figures, alongside the human rights, environmental, and geopolitical dimensions that make the DRC’s mining sector one of the most consequential — and complicated — stories in global commodity markets.

Why the DRC Is the World’s Most Important Mining Country

The Democratic Republic of Congo sits atop deposits of cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds, coltan, tin, tungsten, and lithium that together make it irreplaceable in global supply chains. The DRC’s mineral reserves include:

• Cobalt: ~6 million metric tons in reserves — nearly 55% of the global total
• Copper: an estimated 50 million metric tons of reserves, Africa’s largest
• Coltan (tantalum): one of the world’s largest known sources
• Diamonds: fourth-largest industrial diamond producer globally
• Gold: one of Africa’s top artisanal gold-producing nations
• Lithium: home to the Manono-Kitolo deposit, potentially one of the world’s largest lithium mines

The extractive industry accounts for more than half of the DRC’s GDP and over 95% of its export revenue. Yet despite this extraordinary wealth, the DRC ranks near the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, with over 70% of its 100+ million people living on less than $1.90 per day.

Understanding the gap between resource wealth and human development is central to any serious discussion of Congo mineral extraction.

Congo’s mineral-rich zones are concentrated in three regions: the Copperbelt (southern provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, Tanganyika, and Haut-Lomami), the eastern provinces (North and South Kivu, Ituri, Maniema), and the Kasai region (diamonds).

Below are the Minerals Mined in Congo Explained;

1. Cobalt Mining in Congo — Powering the Global Energy Transition

Why DRC Cobalt Is Irreplaceable

When you charge an electric vehicle, a smartphone, or a home battery storage system, there is a strong chance the cobalt inside its lithium-ion battery came from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The DRC produces approximately 70–76% of the world’s cobalt supply, making it the dominant global source of one of the most strategically critical minerals of the 21st century.

In 2023, the DRC produced an estimated 170,000 metric tons of cobalt — a peak figure for that period. By 2025, cobalt exports reached around 220,000 metric tons, with CMOC and Glencore together accounting for approximately 70% of that output.

CMOC’s DRC operations alone produced over 114,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2024, while Glencore raised its 2025 production forecast to at least 42,000 tonnes from its Mutanda and KCC mines.

In February 2025, the DRC government suspended cobalt exports for four months to address market oversupply — a move that caused global cobalt prices to surge more than 50% during the embargo period.

Export quotas are expected to be introduced in late 2025 and 2026 as Kinshasa seeks greater control over the cobalt market.

Where Cobalt Is Mined in the DRC

Most cobalt mining in the Congo is concentrated in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces within the Copperbelt. The largest industrial operations include:

• Tenke Fungurume Mine (CMOC, 80% ownership; Gécamines, 20%) — one of the world’s highest-grade copper-cobalt deposits
• Kamoto Copper Company / KCC (Glencore, 86.3%) — located in Lualaba province
• Mutanda Mine (Glencore) — one of the largest cobalt mines in the world
• Kisanfu (CMOC) — a newer, high-grade development in the Copperbelt

Alongside these industrial operations, approximately 255,000 artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) work cobalt sites across the DRC, often extracting ore by hand with minimal equipment.

Around 40,000 children are estimated to be involved in artisanal cobalt mining — a figure that has prompted lawsuits against major technology companies and remains one of the most urgent human rights issues in global supply chains.

Cobalt’s Role in the EV and Clean Energy Supply Chain

Cobalt is an essential component in nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) battery cathodes. As EV adoption accelerates globally, demand for DRC cobalt is expected to remain structurally elevated even as battery chemistry evolves.

The Cobalt Institute notes that 99% of global cobalt is a byproduct of copper or nickel mining — meaning cobalt supply is structurally linked to copper demand. As long as Congo copper production grows (forecast to reach 3.4 million tonnes in 2026), cobalt output will follow.

Cobalt Mining Challenges in the DRC

• Child and forced labour in artisanal mines, particularly in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga
• Toxic dust and water contamination from cobalt-rich tailings affecting local communities
• Deforestation of biodiversity-critical ecosystems in the Copperbelt
• Revenue underreporting — a DRC state audit found mining operators underreported approximately $16.8 billion in revenues between 2018 and 2023

2. Copper Mining in Congo — Africa’s Copperbelt Giant

The DRC’s Copper Reserves and Production

Copper is the DRC’s single largest export by volume and the engine of its industrial mining sector. The DRC holds an estimated 50 million metric tons of copper reserves — roughly 10% of the global total — concentrated in ore grades that far exceed the global average.

Where most copper mines globally average 0.6–0.8% copper content, DRC deposits in the Copperbelt regularly exceed 3% concentration.

The DRC exported approximately 3.4 million metric tons of copper in 2025, up nearly 10% from 3.1 million tonnes in 2024. Looking ahead, DRC copper production is forecast to grow by a further 6% in 2026 to reach 3,404,000 tonnes, driven primarily by the ramp-up of the Kamoa-Kakula complex and continued strong output from Tenke Fungurume and Mutanda.

Key Copper Mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kamoa-Kakula (Ivanhoe Mines 39.6%, Zijin Mining 39.6%, Government of DRC 20%) is the standout story in DRC copper mining. Guided to produce 380,000–420,000 tonnes in 2026, with plans to expand capacity to 600,000 tonnes per annum, Kamoa-Kakula is considered one of the highest-grade major copper mines in the world.

CMOC’s DRC operations (Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu) produced 650,200 tonnes of copper in 2024, demonstrating the scale concentrated in just a handful of operators. Other significant producers include Glencore’s Mutanda and KCC mines and Ivanhoe’s Kipushi mine, which entered commercial production in 2024.

The state-owned company Gécamines once led DRC copper production but has declined significantly due to decades of underinvestment and institutional challenges.

Congo Copper and the Green Energy Transition

Copper is essential for electrical wiring, renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicle motors, and grid expansion. As the world electrifies, demand for copper — and by extension demand for DRC copper — is structurally growing. Copper prices in 2025 ranged between $8,000 and $10,000 per tonne, historically elevated by any standard.

Environmental and Social Impacts of Copper Mining in Congo

Large-scale copper mining in the DRC generates significant soil erosion, water pollution from acid mine drainage, and displacement of local communities.

Artisanal copper mining, which coexists with industrial operations, frequently lacks basic safety standards, leading to accidents, chronic health problems from heavy metal exposure, and labour exploitation.

In December 2025, the DRC government halted artisanal copper and cobalt processing operations to tighten traceability rules and crack down on corruption.

3. Gold Mining in Congo — Conflict, Smuggling, and Artisanal Dominance

DRC Gold: A Major but Poorly Tracked Export

Gold is one of the DRC’s most valuable mineral exports, generating approximately 38% of export revenue and employing between 500,000 and 2 million artisanal miners across the country.

Yet gold is also the mineral most associated with conflict financing, smuggling networks, and governance failures in eastern Congo.

Unlike cobalt and copper, which are dominated by large industrial mines with traceable output, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) dominates DRC gold production.

Most artisanal gold mining in Congo takes place in the eastern provinces — Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Maniema — regions that overlap with zones of active armed conflict.

Industrial Gold Mining: Barrick’s Kibali Mine

The most significant large-scale gold mining operation in the DRC is Barrick Gold’s Kibali mine in Ituri province, one of Africa’s largest gold mines and a world-class operation by any measure.

Kibali accounts for a significant share of formal DRC gold exports and operates to international environmental and labour standards, providing a contrast to the artisanal sector.

Gold Smuggling from Congo: The Regional Crisis

The DRC’s gold smuggling problem is massive and well-documented. Artisanal gold from eastern Congo is regularly trafficked through neighbouring countries — particularly Rwanda and Uganda — where it enters global supply chains mislabelled as locally mined. Rwanda’s mineral exports rose to $1.1 billion in 2023, much of it suspected to originate illegally from the DRC.

In the same year, Uganda reported a 42.5% increase in mineral exports, with much of that growth similarly attributed to DRC-origin gold.

Armed groups operating in eastern Congo — over 120 of them — control or tax artisanal gold mines, using revenue to finance weapons, salaries, and operations. This makes DRC conflict gold one of the most persistent challenges in global responsible sourcing efforts.

Environmental Damage from Gold Mining in Congo

Mercury, widely used in artisanal gold processing to amalgamate gold particles, is a severe environmental hazard in DRC mining regions.

Mercury contamination of waterways and soil poses long-term health risks to mining communities and downstream populations.

Deforestation around artisanal gold sites further degrades already stressed ecosystems in eastern Congo’s biodiversity-rich forest zones.

4. Diamond Mining in Congo — The World’s Fourth-Largest Producer

Congo Diamond Production and Market Position

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s fourth-largest industrial diamond producer and the second-largest in Africa. In 2022, the DRC produced approximately 4.3 million carats of diamonds.

However, the DRC’s diamond sector is plagued by one of the world’s largest illicit trade problems: an estimated $500 million per year is lost to diamond smuggling, with only around one-third of production exported through formal, traceable channels.

Where Are Congo’s Diamonds Mined?

DRC diamond mining is concentrated in the Kasai region, particularly Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental provinces in the country’s centre.

Artisanal mining accounts for approximately 81% of total diamond production, with industrial operations led by Minière de Bakwanga (MIBA) contributing the remainder.

Conflict Diamonds and the Kasai Region

The term “blood diamonds” — referring to diamonds mined in conflict zones and used to finance armed groups — is directly linked to the DRC’s history.

Political instability, human rights abuses associated with diamond mining communities, and weak regulatory oversight have made responsible sourcing of DRC diamonds an ongoing challenge for international jewellery supply chains.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, designed to prevent conflict diamond trade, faces persistent criticism for being insufficient to address the DRC’s informal trade volumes.

5. The 3T Minerals: Tantalum, Tin, and Tungsten Mining in Congo

What Are the 3T Minerals and Why Do They Matter?

The “3T minerals” — tantalum (from coltan), tin (from cassiterite), and tungsten (from wolframite) — are essential components in the consumer electronics devices used by billions of people worldwide. Tantalum is used in capacitors found in smartphones and laptops.

Tin is critical for soldering electronic circuit boards. Tungsten creates the vibration function in mobile phones and is used in cutting tools and aerospace components.

The DRC is one of the world’s most significant sources of all three.

3T Mining in Eastern Congo

Mining of the 3T minerals is concentrated in the eastern DRC provinces — North and South Kivu, Maniema, and Tanganyika. Unlike the Copperbelt’s large industrial mines, 3T extraction is almost entirely artisanal and small-scale.

In 2019, over 94,900 miners worked at approximately 760 cassiterite (tin ore) sites, while coltan mining involved around 25,682 artisanal workers. These figures have grown since.

An estimated 120 tonnes of coltan are smuggled out of the DRC monthly, primarily through Rwanda and Uganda. Armed groups tax or directly control many 3T mining sites in eastern Congo, making the 3T mineral supply chain one of the most scrutinised in global electronics manufacturing.

Regulation of Congo’s 3T Minerals

The U.S. Dodd-Frank Act (Section 1502) requires publicly listed American companies to conduct due diligence on whether their products contain conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold) sourced from the DRC or neighbouring countries.

The EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, which took full effect in 2021, similarly requires European importers to exercise supply chain due diligence.

Despite these frameworks, tracing 3T minerals from eastern Congo artisanal mines to finished electronics remains deeply challenging due to smuggling, informal trading, and weak governance.

6. Lithium Mining in Congo — The Next Frontier

The Manono-Kitolo Deposit: A Potential Global Game-Changer

The DRC’s lithium reserves represent one of the most significant untapped mineral deposits in the world. The Manono-Kitolo project in Tanganyika province — a former tin and coltan site — is considered potentially one of the largest lithium deposits globally, with the ore grade and scale needed to become a major supplier of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

As of the mid-2020s, no large-scale lithium mining has commenced at Manono. AVZ Minerals, which held a 75% stake in the project alongside the state enterprise Cominiere (25%), has faced prolonged legal disputes and licensing conflicts that have stalled development.

The resolution of these disputes is one of the most closely watched developments in global critical mineral investment.

Congo Lithium’s Strategic Importance

Lithium is the foundational element in lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and portable electronics.

As EV adoption accelerates globally — with the International Energy Agency projecting tens of millions of EVs sold annually through the 2030s — demand for battery-grade lithium is expected to grow substantially.

A developed Manono project could position the DRC as a major lithium supplier alongside Australia, Chile, and Argentina, fundamentally reshaping the global battery supply chain.

Risks of Congo Lithium Development

Critics warn that without major improvements in governance, environmental regulation, and community benefit-sharing, DRC lithium development risks repeating the social and ecological problems that have characterised cobalt and copper mining.

The Congolese government, international investors, and civil society organisations are all watching how the Manono project develops as a potential model — or cautionary tale — for the next phase of Congo mineral extraction.

Other Minerals Mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Beyond the six major minerals above, the DRC produces or holds significant reserves of:

• Uranium: The Shinkolobwe mine in Katanga is historically one of the world’s most significant uranium deposits — its ore was used in the Manhattan Project. Active mining is now restricted due to security and proliferation concerns.
• Zinc and Manganese: Produced in the Copperbelt and Katanga as byproducts of copper operations. Kipushi, which re-entered commercial production in 2024, is a high-grade zinc mine.
• Silver, Cadmium, and Germanium: Extracted as byproducts in the Copperbelt, with germanium having growing strategic importance in semiconductor manufacturing.
• Methane Gas: Lake Kivu on the DRC’s eastern border holds vast dissolved methane reserves, the subject of ongoing energy development projects.
• Rare Earth Elements: Found in smaller deposits, particularly in Kivu and Maniema, with growing exploration interest.

Historical Context: Mining in the DRC from Pre-Colonial Times to Today

Understanding Congo mineral extraction today requires understanding its history — because history explains much of what seems inexplicable about the gap between resource wealth and human development.

Pre-Colonial Era: Indigenous peoples, including the Yeke Kingdom of Katanga, mined and traded copper as early as the 14th century. The iconic “Katanga Cross” — a standardised copper ingot — functioned as currency and a symbol of wealth across central Africa.

Colonial Period (1885–1960): Under King Leopold II’s brutal Congo Free State, and later Belgian colonial administration, the DRC’s mineral wealth was systematically extracted to enrich European powers. Forced labour, violent taxation, and the severing of traditional land relationships impoverished communities that sat on some of the world’s richest ore deposits.

Post-Independence (1960–Present): The assassination of Patrice Lumumba in 1961 — who sought to use Congo’s mineral wealth for the Congolese people — marked the beginning of decades of foreign-backed kleptocracy under Mobutu Sese Seko.

The Second Congo War (1998–2003), which drew in Rwanda, Uganda, and multiple armed factions, saw mass looting of minerals from eastern Congo and established the conflict-mineral supply chain patterns that persist today.

Artisanal vs. Industrial Mining in the DRC: Two Parallel Worlds

Industrial Mining

Major industrial mining companies operating in the DRC include:

• Glencore (Mutanda, KCC — cobalt and copper, Lualaba)
• CMOC / China Molybdenum (Tenke Fungurume, Kisanfu — cobalt and copper)
• Ivanhoe Mines (Kamoa-Kakula — copper; Kipushi — zinc)
• Barrick Gold (Kibali — gold, Ituri)
• AVZ Minerals (Manono — lithium, Tanganyika, development stalled)

Industrial mines use advanced technology, large-scale infrastructure, and joint ventures with the state-owned Gécamines. Mining permits are managed by the Cadastre Minier (CAMI).

The DRC’s revised Mining Code (2018) increased royalties and introduced a “strategic minerals” tax, creating tension with foreign investors but signalling Kinshasa’s intent to capture a greater share of revenue.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM)

ASM employs an estimated 500,000 to 2 million people across the DRC and contributes the majority of gold, diamond, and 3T mineral production. Conditions are frequently dangerous: miners use basic hand tools, earn less than $2 per day on average, and face constant risks of tunnel collapse, toxic exposure, and armed group interference. Women are heavily involved, particularly in mineral processing, but earn on average 29% less than men in 3T mining areas.

ASM is legally required to operate within designated Artisanal Exploitation Zones (AEZs), but most activity occurs informally due to weak enforcement and corrupt administration.

Formalisation programmes — including traceability schemes and conflict-free certification — have made slow but measurable progress in certain areas.

Socio-Economic Impact of Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC’s minerals account for over 95% of the country’s export revenue, yet the country remains among the poorest in the world. A DRC state audit found that mining operators underreported approximately $16.8 billion in revenues between 2018 and 2023 — averaging over $3 billion per year that should have flowed to the Congolese state.

In April 2026, President Félix Tshisekedi chaired a cabinet meeting at which the scale of revenue leakage was formally acknowledged, triggering the most significant enforcement probe in recent DRC mining history.

This “resource curse” dynamic — where mineral wealth coexists with mass poverty — is the central socio-economic challenge of Congo mining. Most revenue from DRC minerals ultimately benefits foreign mining corporations, corrupt officials, or armed groups rather than the 100 million Congolese citizens who live above the ore.

Environmental Consequences of Mining in the Congo

Congo mineral extraction imposes severe environmental costs on one of the world’s most ecologically significant countries. The DRC contains the second-largest tropical rainforest on earth and extraordinary biodiversity, including endemic species found nowhere else.

Key environmental impacts include:

• Deforestation in cobalt and copper mining zones, particularly in the Copperbelt
• Water contamination from toxic mine effluents and acid mine drainage affecting rivers and groundwater
• Mercury pollution from artisanal gold processing, affecting aquatic ecosystems and human health for generations
• Soil degradation and erosion from unregulated artisanal mining across eastern Congo
• Air pollution from dust and fumes at both industrial and artisanal sites

There is a deep irony at the heart of Congo’s role in the green energy transition: the cobalt and lithium that power electric vehicles and renewable energy storage are extracted in ways that, under current governance conditions, cause significant environmental destruction.

Geopolitics of Congo Minerals: China, the US, and the EU

China’s Dominance in DRC Mining

China has systematically positioned itself as the dominant foreign investor in DRC mineral extraction over the past two decades.

Through deals like the Sino-Congolais des Mines agreement and CMOC’s acquisition of Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu, Chinese companies now control the majority of the DRC’s cobalt and a significant share of its copper.

Chinese firms account for approximately 70% of cobalt exports from the DRC through CMOC and Glencore (in which Chinese interests hold significant positions).

US and EU Counter-Strategies

The United States and European Union have both identified DRC minerals as strategically critical and are seeking to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains.

The US is backing the $2.3 billion Lobito Corridor — a railway project linking the DRC Copperbelt to the Angolan port of Lobito — to create a US-aligned mineral export route.

President Tshisekedi has proposed offering mineral access in exchange for Western security and peace-building support in eastern Congo.

The EU has meanwhile made the Lobito route a flagship of its Global Gateway infrastructure programme. China is backing a rival rail route — a reported $1.4 billion deal to refurbish the TAZARA railway through Zambia and Tanzania to Dar es Salaam. The DRC’s mineral wealth has, in this sense, become a geopolitical battleground between the world’s major powers.

International Regulations Governing Congo Minerals

• U.S. Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 (2010): Requires US-listed companies to disclose and audit their use of conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold) sourced from the DRC
• EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (fully effective 2021): Mandatory supply chain due diligence for European importers of 3T minerals and gold
• OECD Due Diligence Guidance: The international standard for responsible sourcing from conflict-affected areas
• Kimberley Process Certification Scheme: Designed to prevent conflict diamonds, though critics argue it does not address all forms of illicit DRC diamond trade

FAQs About Minerals Mined in Congo

What minerals are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo? The DRC mines cobalt, copper, gold, diamonds, tantalum (coltan), tin (cassiterite), tungsten (wolframite), lithium, uranium, zinc, silver, manganese, germanium, and rare earth elements, among others. It is one of the most mineral-diverse countries on earth.

Why is DRC cobalt so important? The DRC produces approximately 70–76% of the world’s cobalt supply — a mineral that is essential in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and energy storage. No other country comes close to the DRC’s dominance in cobalt production.

Is it possible to buy ethically sourced minerals from the DRC? Yes, though it requires rigorous supply chain due diligence. Look for suppliers using OECD-compliant sourcing, iTSCi (ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative) certification for 3T minerals, LBMA-certified gold chains, and Kimberley Process diamonds. Industrial mine output from operations like Kamoa-Kakula and Kibali carries far stronger traceability than artisanal material.

What is conflict mineral mining in Congo? Conflict minerals are minerals — particularly gold, tantalum, tin, and tungsten — whose extraction or trade directly or indirectly finances armed groups perpetuating human rights abuses in eastern DRC. Over 120 armed groups operate in mineral-rich zones of eastern Congo, taxing or controlling mines to fund their operations.

How much is the DRC’s mineral wealth worth? The DRC’s total mineral deposits are estimated to be worth approximately $24 trillion, making it arguably the wealthiest country in the world in terms of underground resources. Its above-ground poverty makes this one of the defining paradoxes of global development.

What is the Manono lithium project? The Manono-Kitolo project in Tanganyika province is potentially one of the world’s largest lithium deposits. It is owned by AVZ Minerals (75%) and the state enterprise Cominiere (25%). Development has been stalled by legal disputes, but it remains one of the most watched mineral development projects globally.

Conclusion: Congo Minerals and the World’s Future

The minerals mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo are not merely commodities — they are the physical foundation of the global clean energy transition, the consumer electronics era, and the digital economy. DRC cobalt powers EV batteries. DRC copper wires renewable energy grids. DRC coltan sits inside the smartphone in your pocket.

Yet the story of Congo mineral extraction is also one of profound injustice: a country with $24 trillion beneath its feet where the majority of citizens live on less than $2 a day, where children mine cobalt by hand, where armed groups profit from the minerals powering your laptop, and where foreign corporations and corrupt officials have historically captured the lion’s share of resource revenue.

In 2026, with the DRC government’s revenue enforcement probe underway, Chinese and Western powers competing for influence in the Copperbelt, and the Manono lithium project poised to enter a new phase, the stakes have never been higher.

How the world chooses to source, certify, and account for the minerals mined in Congo will shape both the global energy transition and the future of 100 million Congolese people.

Interested in sourcing minerals from Congo responsibly? Contact our team to discuss certified, traceable procurement of DRC minerals compliant with OECD, EU, and US due diligence standards.