• China Minmetals seeks new mining permits and technical cooperation in DR Congo.

• The initiative aligns with Congo’s push for local processing, jobs, and value-chain participation.

• MMG’s Kinsevere mine ramps up output despite missing 2025 production targets.

China Minmetals Corporation (CMC) is advancing plans to expand its presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector through new permit acquisitions and partnerships with local authorities.

The Chinese group, which holds an indirect majority stake in MMG, expressed interest in acquiring new mining permits following a meeting held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 in Beijing with Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba.

According to the ministry, the discussions focused on expanding the group’s operations in the country. In addition, China Minmetals signaled interest in technical cooperation with the national geological service to accelerate the identification of new mineral deposits.

During the meeting, the minister outlined the Democratic Republic of Congo’s strategic priorities. He emphasized geological exploration, local processing of resources, sustainable job creation, and stronger Congolese participation across the mining value chain.

The ministry described the meeting as a signal supporting a model based on productive investment, local value addition, and sustainable development of the mining sector.

Kinsevere at the Core of CMC’s Presence

In DR Congo, the group’s key asset remains the Kinsevere mine, which MMG operates about 30 kilometers north of Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga. The operation historically focused on copper production, but the company expanded it to include copper sulfide and cobalt processing.

Authorities approved the expansion project in March 2022 with a total investment estimated between $550 million and $600 million. The project targets annual output at full capacity of 80,000 tonnes of copper cathode and between 4,000 and 6,000 tonnes of cobalt. In December 2023, Top Create Resources Limited, an entity linked to CMC, provided $300 million in financing.

After completing the mechanical phase of the expansion in September 2024, MMG targeted copper cathode production of between 63,000 and 69,000 tonnes in 2025 at Kinsevere. However, the company did not meet this target. MMG reported output of 52,791 tonnes of copper in 2025, representing an 18% year-on-year increase. This growth reflects the ongoing ramp-up of the expansion project.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (Bankable)

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum