UAE’s IRH Expands Presence in DRC Copper and Cobalt Sector Amid Strategic Mining Deals

Why It Matters

The moves give the United Arab Emirates a strategic foothold in the DRC’s copper‑cobalt belt, securing supply chains essential for the global energy transition and reshaping the competitive landscape of African mining.

Key Takeaways

• IRH linked to copper‑cobalt joint venture KKM in Lualaba
• Falcon Resources and Luna Mining tied to Emirati investment group
• 16 MoUs signed in Kolwezi signal broader UAE mining partnership
• IRH’s $1.1 bn Mopani stake diversifies its critical‑minerals portfolio

Pulse Analysis

The United Arab Emirates has turned its attention to Africa’s mineral belt, and International Resources Holding (IRH) is emerging as the flagship vehicle for that strategy. After sealing a $367 million deal for a majority stake in tin producer Alphamin in 2025, IRH is now being linked to copper and cobalt projects in the mineral‑rich Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These assets sit at the heart of the global energy transition, where copper and cobalt are essential for electric‑vehicle batteries and renewable‑energy infrastructure, making the DRC a strategic prize for any emerging mining conglomerate.

Official filings reveal that the Kabulungu copper‑cobalt deposit is now operated by Kabulungu Kamilombe Mining (KKM), a 60‑40 joint venture between Falcon Resources and the state‑owned Gécamines. Although IRH is not named on the paperwork, investigative reporting ties Falcon Resources—and its counterpart Luna Mining, which runs the Kongo Mining Company (KMC) joint venture—to the Emirati investment group. The shared CEO, Yehezkel Ambar, suggests a coordinated management layer that can streamline permitting, export logistics, and downstream processing, giving the UAE a de‑facto foothold in the DRC’s most valuable metal districts.

The rapid succession of 16 memoranda of understanding signed in Kolwezi this year underscores the breadth of the UAE’s ambition, extending beyond copper and cobalt to nickel and lithium projects across the continent. For IRH, the $1.1 billion acquisition of a 51 % stake in Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines further diversifies its portfolio and positions the group as a cross‑border supplier of critical minerals. As Western miners face regulatory headwinds and Chinese firms consolidate their presence, the Emirati entry could reshape financing terms, introduce new off‑take agreements, and accelerate the DRC’s integration into global supply chains.