Congo Expands State Gold Trading to Strengthen National Reserves
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s state‑owned DRC Gold Trading aims to purchase up to 15 metric tons of artisanal gold by 2026, after the government assumed full ownership in 2024. A February agreement gives the Central Bank of Congo priority access to the metal, allowing it to bolster national gold reserves. The firm has expanded from buying just 25 kg a year to operating across eight provinces, reflecting a broader African push to formalise informal mining and curb smuggling. In its first three years, the company bought only 10 tons, underscoring the scale of the new target.
Fortescue Acquires Alta Copper to Secure Full Ownership of Cañariaco Project in Peru
Fortescue has completed the acquisition of Alta Copper, securing 100% ownership of the Cañariaco copper project in northern Peru. The deal, executed through a Canadian plan of arrangement, valued the equity at roughly C$139 million. Cañariaco spans about 91 square kilometres within...
Rome Resources Expands Critical Minerals Strategy with New Exploration Projects in Canada
London-listed Rome Resources has signed an option to acquire working interests in two early‑stage mineral licences covering over 109 km² near New Brunswick’s historic Mount Pleasant Mine. The Three Lakes and Schoullar Mountain projects host tin, tungsten and indium occurrences, with...
Tenke Fungurume Mine Accused of Polluting Air and Harming Communities in DR C
The Environmental Investigation Agency and PremiCongo released the "Toxic Transition" report accusing CMOC’s Tenke Fungurume Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo of emitting pollutants that may be harming nearby residents. The study, based on more than 1,200 anonymized medical...
DRC Boosts Oil Revenue and Fights Fraud with Innovative Fuel Traceability Program
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a molecular marking program for petroleum products, using invisible chemical tracers to track fuel from import to retail. Partnering with Authentix Inc., the initiative aims to curb smuggling and improve tax compliance. Early...
Tin Market Volatility Intensifies as Global Demand for Strategic Metals Grows
Tin prices surged to a projected $54,925 per ton for the week of March 9‑14 2026, according to the DRC’s National Market Commission, while Boursorama data on March 10 showed a daily dip to $48,275 per ton, underscoring sharp volatility. The metal’s small...
Illegal Mining and Child Labor Concerns Raised in Bas-Uélé Province
Congolese entrepreneur Obed Mutuale warned that illegal artisanal mining is booming in Bas‑Uélé province, with under‑age children increasingly employed at hazardous sites. During a Jan. 18‑25 visit, he called on the DRC central government to intervene urgently, citing weak state oversight...
Zambia and UK Sign Debt Restructuring Deal Under G20 Framework
Zambia and the United Kingdom have signed an amendment that reduces Zambia's outstanding debt to the UK from $291 million to about $277 million and pushes the final repayment deadline from 2032 to 2043. The deal is part of Zambia’s broader debt‑restructuring...
MMG Eyes New Copper Projects in DRC as Global Expansion Strategy Accelerates
MMG Limited is actively scouting advanced copper projects in Africa, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, to broaden its portfolio amid soaring demand for energy‑transition metals. The miner’s 2025 results showed net profit soaring to $509 million, a...
Congolese Geology Team Wins Global Recognition at PDAC 2026
A team of young Congolese geologists from the University of Kinshasa, known as Bana Kongo, earned the Impact and Exploration Award at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2026 Next Generation Explorers competition. Competing against roughly 40 international...
Zambia Ranks Third Most Attractive Mining Investment Destination in Africa
Zambia has risen to become the third‑most attractive mining investment destination in Africa, trailing only Botswana and Morocco, according to the Fraser Institute’s 2025 Annual Survey. Globally, the country improved to 25th place on the Investment Attractiveness Index, up from...
ZIMEC 2026 to Examine Zambia’s Mining and Energy Transition at a Pivotal Moment for Investment and Reform
The 13th Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference (ZIMEC 2026) will convene March 25‑26 in Kitwe, bringing together government officials, financiers, and global mining experts to chart Zambia’s mining and energy transition. With mining accounting for roughly 70% of export...
Zambian Govt Reaffirms Support for Sustainable Artisanal Mining in Central Province
Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development reaffirmed its commitment to legal, organised and sustainable artisanal small‑scale mining (ASM) in Central Province. The government, together with district authorities, traditional leaders and security agencies, will enforce regulations and expand a land‑facilitation...
French Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities at Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone
A high‑level French embassy delegation toured Zambia’s Kalumbila Multi‑Facility Economic Zone to assess investment prospects in the country’s mining supply chain. Hosted by First Quantum Minerals, the visit highlighted the zone’s 5,000‑hectare footprint, fiscal incentives and ready infrastructure. Kalumbila MFEZ’s...
Bridge Collapse Disrupts DRC’s Key Copper Export Route
Severe flooding caused a bridge collapse near the Kasumbalesa border crossing, halting the main copper export corridor between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. The blockage stopped trucks carrying copper and cobalt, threatening the flow of these critical minerals...
DRC Showcases Strategy for Industrialisation and Value Addition at PDAC 2026
At PDAC 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo unveiled a strategy to convert its vast mineral endowment into an industrial engine, emphasizing local processing and value‑addition. The government highlighted a $29 billion Iron Mines of the Great East corridor, upcoming...
Botswana Advances Copper Beneficiation with Planned Khoemacau Refinery Study
Botswana’s government announced a feasibility study to assess a copper refinery linked to MMG’s Khoemacau expansion. The mine has already shipped about 587,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, containing roughly 177,000 tonnes of copper, and aims to boost concentrate output to...
KCM Charts a New Era of Investment, Modernisation and Growth
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has poured roughly $600 million into its Zambian operations since Vedanta Resources returned, prioritising underground development, infrastructure rehabilitation and AI‑driven safety systems. The capital injection has created more than 2,000 jobs, expanding the workforce to over 14,000...
Zambia Strengthens Energy Security with Approval of Two Strategic Cross-Border Pipelines
Zambia’s cabinet approved two cross‑border pipelines—the Tanzania‑Zambia Multi‑Products Pipeline and the Namibia‑Zambia Refined Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipeline—to diversify fuel imports and reduce reliance on the decades‑old TAZAMA line. The projects aim to create supply redundancy, improve pricing competitiveness, and...
Rwanda Opens New Mining Blocks to Boost Investment in Strategic Minerals
Rwanda’s mining authority has opened a second tranche of ten exploration blocks covering tin, tantalum, tungsten, lithium, beryllium and gemstones. The government expects more than 70 applications, aiming to double the interest seen in the 2025 round. Investors must register...
DRC’s Cobalt Quotas Reshape the Global Critical Metals Market
The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced strict cobalt export quotas—18,125 tonnes for Q4 2025 and 96,600 tonnes for 2026—while reserving 10% of production as a strategic stockpile. The policy, aimed at curbing smuggling, stabilising prices and capturing more domestic value,...
Serval Resources Launches 2026 Exploration Programme in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt
Serval Resources has launched its 2026 exploration programme on two licences owned by Kalahari Copper Limited (KCL) in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, following a conditional agreement to acquire KCL. The first activity is a ground magnetic survey on licence PL061,...
SACIM Completes First Antwerp Diamond Sale in Over a Decade
SACIM completed its first public auction of industrial diamonds in Antwerp, selling 288,000 carats between 16‑20 February 2026. The sale involved 67 international buyers from China, India, the United States and Italy, marking the return of Congolese diamonds to the...
China Lithium Prices Surge as Zimbabwe Suspends Raw Mineral Exports
China’s lithium carbonate futures surged after Zimbabwe suspended all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange contract jumped 6.07% to 178,020 yuan, having peaked above 9% earlier in the session. Zimbabwe, the continent’s top lithium producer, shipped...
Ghana to Channel Artisanal Gold Into Formal Trade to Boost Revenue
Ghana announced an artisanal and small‑scale mining (ASM) gold formalisation programme that will channel roughly 127 metric tons of gold per year into official trade. The Ghana Gold Board, via the newly created GoldBod, will purchase a minimum of 2.45 tons weekly,...
Tshisekedi Prioritises Gold Sector Reform to Boost State Revenue
President Félix Tshisekedi announced a comprehensive reform of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's gold sector, targeting the massive revenue loss from smuggling and informal trade. The plan, presented at a Council of Ministers meeting on 20 February 2026, seeks...
Zambia and France Deepen Mining Sector Cooperation
Zambia and France have agreed to deepen cooperation in the mining sector, focusing on sustainable development and transparency. The French delegation, led by Thomas Rossignol, pledged technical support to strengthen Zambia’s Minerals Regulation Commission, including modern monitoring and enforcement technologies. The...
Artificial Intelligence Could Reduce Drilling by a Factor of Five – Jef Caers, Stanford University Expert
Stanford geoscience professor Jef Caers announced that artificial‑intelligence‑driven "intelligent agents" could slash mineral‑exploration drilling by up to five‑fold. The system plans sequential drilling to test and falsify human geological hypotheses, targeting uncertainty reduction rather than exhaustive grid sampling. By focusing...
DRC Govt Condemns Artisanal Mine Collapse in Lualaba, Calls for Urgent Safety Measures
On February 24, a collapse at an artisanal mine on the outskirts of Kolwezi in Lualaba Province killed several Algerian workers, prompting Prime Minister Judith Suminwa to condemn the tragedy and pledge stronger safety oversight. She cited a December 2025 ministerial report...
Lualaba Showcased Cobalt Leadership and Sustainable Vision at Mining Indaba 2026
At Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, Lualaba province positioned itself as the world’s leading cobalt producer, emphasizing its pivotal role in the energy transition. Governor Fifi Masuka Saini highlighted the region’s stable, investment‑friendly governance and alignment with international mining...
DRC Mineral Export Prices Decline, Tin Records Steepest Weekly Drop
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral export prices are set to fall in the week of Feb 23‑28, 2026, with tin posting the steepest decline to $48,089 per ton, a $1,667 drop from the prior week. Copper, gold, and zinc also...
DRC Launches National Airborne Geophysical Mapping Programme to Modernise Mining Sector
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a nationwide airborne geophysical and geological mapping programme, overseen by a newly formed steering committee chaired by Mining Minister Louis Watum Kabamba. Spanish firm Xcalibur Multiphysics Group SL secured the contract to conduct...
Govt Praises Kansanshi for Driving Local Supplier Development in North-Western Province
The Zambian government praised Kansanshi Mining PLC for hosting a Tender and Bid Workshop aimed at strengthening local suppliers and contractors in the North‑Western Province. Deputy Permanent Secretary Luckson Mulumbi highlighted the workshop’s role in advancing local content and reinforcing...
Kibali Breaks Revenue Record as Gold Prices Surge Despite Lower Output
Kibali gold mine posted record revenue of about $2.3 billion in 2025, a 40% jump from 2024, despite a 2% dip in gold output to roughly 673,000 ounces. Barrick’s 45% share generated $1.04 billion, while the mine’s contribution to group earnings rose...
DRC, Belgium, and KoBold Metals in Dispute Over Colonial Mineral Archives
A dispute has emerged between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, and U.S. firm KoBold Metals over access to colonial-era geological archives housed at Belgium’s AfricaMuseum. The DRC wants to partner with KoBold to digitize data on cobalt, lithium and...
Kolwezi to Host DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialization Forum in October 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo will host the inaugural DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialization Forum in Kolwezi from 7 to 9 October 2026, co‑hosting with the DRC‑Africa Battery Metals Forum. The event targets cobalt and lithium, aiming to shift the...
Jubilee Metals Reports Strong Half-Year Copper Performance in Zambia
Jubilee Metals reported a strong first half of 2025, with Roan achieving its 30,000‑tonne‑per‑month feed target and saleable copper output rising 8.7% to 1,543 tonnes. The company kept its full‑year production guidance of 4,500‑5,100 tonnes despite seasonal rain disruptions. Roan...
ZCCM-IH to Construct Access Roads at Kikonge Mine as Govt Moves to Formalise Artisanal Mining
ZCCM Investments Holdings has begun constructing access roads to the Kikonge Mine in Mufumbwe, signalling a concrete step in Zambia’s drive to regularise artisanal and small‑scale mining. The government, led by Mining Minister Paul Kabuswe, linked illegal mining to the...
DRC Subcontracting Regulator Cancels Kibali Contracts, Orders Legal Tender Process
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting (ARSP) has voided contracts between the Kibali Gold Mine and three service firms—KMS, Boart Longyear and TAI Services—citing non‑compliance with subcontracting regulations. The audit, conducted in November 2025, found the contractors...
DRC Launches AXIS Programme and Sovereign Gold Reserve Token Framework
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines and the Social Fund signed an agreement to launch the AXIS Programme and its Sovereign Gold Reserve Token (SGRT), a debt‑free financing tool linked to gold production. Led by the FSRDC with...
Kagem Mining Celebrates Four-Year Lost Time Injury-Free Safety Milestone
Kagem Mining Limited has been officially recognized by Zambia's Minerals Regulation Commission for completing four consecutive years without a lost‑time injury, a first in the country’s mining sector. The milestone underscores the company’s disciplined safety planning, continuous training, and adherence...
TFM Showcases Economic Impact and Calls for Energy Reform at DRC Breakfast During Mining Indaba
Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) told Mining Indaba delegates it has delivered roughly US$8 billion to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s public treasury since 2006 and supports about 20,000 jobs. The mine, a Copper Mark‑certified operation, allocates 0.3% of revenue to community projects...
Govt Reinforces Local Employment Compliance Across Zambia’s Mining Industry
Zambia’s government is tightening enforcement of the Employment Code Act and the Geological and Minerals Development Act, mandating mining firms to give first preference to Zambian workers. Expatriate hires are only permitted when a genuine skills gap exists and must...
Ivanhoe Mines Calls 2025 a “Decisive Turning Point” Amid Strong Financial and Operational Momentum
Ivanhoe Mines reported a $228 million net profit for 2025, driven by strong performance at its flagship Kamoa‑Kakula copper complex, Kipushi zinc mine, and the ramp‑up of the Platreef polymetallic project. Copper prices near historic highs and operational milestones have delivered...
Zambia Lifts Suspension on Mopani’s Mufulira Mine After Safety Upgrades
Zambia’s Minerals Regulation Commission has lifted the week‑long suspension of underground operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira mine after the company installed upgraded safety systems. The new measures include a real‑time personnel tracking platform, a two‑hour clearance verification process, and...
Zambia’s Copper Industry Expands Amid Rising Global Demand and Investment
Global demand for copper, driven by AI, renewable energy and electric vehicles, is spurring a rapid expansion of Zambia’s mining sector. Since 2022, more than $12 billion has been poured into the industry, lifting 2024 output by roughly eight percent to...
