The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most mineral-rich country on Earth by estimated value of subsoil assets, holding approximately 70 percent of global cobalt reserves, 60 percent of coltan (used in tantalum capacitors for electronics), massive copper deposits in Katanga, significant gold resources in eastern DRC, and the world's second-largest tropical forest. Cobalt and copper together generated approximately $15 billion in DRC export revenues in 2023. As electric vehicle battery demand drives cobalt prices, DRC's strategic importance to the global economy has become undeniable. Ivanhoe Mines's Kamoa-Kakula copper complex reached 400,000 tonnes of copper production in 2023 and is targeting 620,000 tonnes by 2025, making it one of the world's largest copper mines.
Infrastructure and Governance
DRC's challenge is converting mineral wealth into broad-based development. Infrastructure deficits, governance challenges, and eastern DRC's ongoing conflict remain significant barriers. Yet the scale of mineral investment proceeding despite these challenges reflects how compelling the resource endowment is. The Lobito Corridor rehabilitation connecting Katanga to Angola's Atlantic coast port is a US-EU strategic investment priority. Mining sector investors and commodity traders can access DRC sector data on intra-africa.com.
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