MWE Correspondent
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrates, in a move aimed at increasing domestic processing and ensuring the country captures greater value from its mineral resources.
The decision was announced through an official order on August 6, 2026, and comes as the DRC seeks to strengthen control over its strategic mineral sector and encourage investment in local processing facilities.
The DRC is one of the world’s leading producers of both copper and cobalt. Cobalt, in particular, is considered a critical mineral because it is widely used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy-storage systems.
The government’s decision is expected to have an impact beyond the DRC, particularly on international markets that rely heavily on African supplies of copper and cobalt. The country’s copper output represents a significant share of global production, making any major changes to its export policy closely watched by traders and manufacturers.
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The export ban also reflects a broader push by African mineral-producing countries to move away from exporting raw materials and instead develop domestic industries capable of processing minerals before they are shipped abroad.
For the DRC, greater local processing could create jobs, increase government revenues and strengthen the country’s position in the global critical-minerals supply chain.
However, the move could also create challenges for mining companies that currently depend on exporting concentrates. Industry players may need to adjust their operations and increase investment in local processing infrastructure to comply with the new policy.
The decision comes at a time when demand for copper is rising globally due to its importance in electricity networks, renewable energy projects, electric vehicles and other technologies associated with the energy transition.
With the DRC holding some of Africa’s most important deposits of critical minerals, the new policy is likely to intensify debate over how the continent can benefit more from its natural resources while reducing dependence on the export of unprocessed minerals.
