Central Africa Mining Advisory - DR Congo, Cobalt, Copper, and Critical Minerals

The DRC is the most mineralogically significant nation in Africa - and arguably on earth - for the 21st-century economy. The Katanga and Lualaba provinces constitute the Copperbelt's DRC half, dominated by large-scale operations from Glencore (Mutanda, Kamoto), CMOC (Tenke Fungurume), and Ivanhoe (Kamoa-Kakula - the world's highest-grade large copper deposit). Eastern DRC's Kivu and Maniema provinces produce coltan, cassiterite, wolframite, and gold - critical minerals whose sourcing requires OECD DDG compliance. Artisanal and small-scale mining employs over 2 million people.

The Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) is primarily an oil economy, but its mineral sector holds significant undeveloped potential. Gold and diamond deposits exist in the Sangha and Plateaux regions. The Mayoko iron ore deposit attracted major investment interest before the commodity price cycle correction. Potash deposits in Kouilou represent a long-term fertiliser opportunity. Mining regulation is developing but less established than DRC or Zambia.

Cameroon holds significant undeveloped mineral potential including the Mbalam iron ore deposit, Ngaoundal bauxite, and Nkamouna cobalt-nickel deposit (one of the largest undeveloped cobalt deposits outside the DRC). The country's geological surveys indicate widespread mineralisation that has been incompletely explored. Political stability in the south and centre contrasts with security challenges in anglophone regions and the Far North.