Kinshasa, December 17th, 2025 (CPA) – A mining company operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a production level of approximately 700,000 tons of copper in 2025, according to the annual report presented on Tuesday in Kinshasa, the country’s capital, to the Minister in charge of Mines, a copy of which was obtained by CPA on Wednesday. » (…) the delegation from China Molybdenum Company (CMOC) presented the annual production report for its operations in the DRC to the Minister of Mines on Tuesday in Kinshasa. On this occasion, the CMOC Group announced that it had achieved an annual production of approximately 700,000 tons of copper, reaffirming its position among the main players in the Congolese mining sector.
« According to the source, the CMOC Group also expressed its willingness to increase its overall investment in the DRC to US$8 billion, demonstrating its confidence in the country’s mining potential and the continuous improvement of the business climate. To this end, the CMOC delegation raised certain operational constraints, notably the electricity shortage and the encroachment of artisanal miners on certain mining sites, calling for a concerted effort to address these challenges, the source reported.
Regarding the difficulties raised, the Minister of Mines reassured that concerted and sustainable solutions will be implemented, in collaboration with the various stakeholders, in order to ensure the smooth, responsible and sustainable continuation of mining activities throughout the country. Mr. Watum also asked CMOC, whose mines in the DRC are estimated to have a lifespan of 50 years, to start planning investments in local electricity production now, rather than favoring imports from Zambia and Angola, it was reported. In addition, the minister advised CMOC to involve local communities in the search for sustainable solutions to encroachment.
To this end, he announced initiatives taken by the government, some of which are already in place, to put an end to this complex phenomenon affecting industrial mining sites. He also congratulated the Group for its work in the DRC and its significant contribution to the national economy in terms of production, public revenue, jobs and skills transfer. The Minister in charge of Mines reaffirmed the Congolese government’s commitment to supporting and protecting serious investors, in strict compliance with the laws and regulations of the Republic, the source said.
Addressing current geopolitical and strategic issues, the Congolese Minister in charge of Mines reassured the delegation that the cooperation agreements recently concluded between the DRC and the United States of America in no way constitute a threat to investors from other countries, including those from the People’s Republic of China, just as the Sino-Congolese partnership has never been directed against the interests of Western partners. He reiterated the DRC’s position in favor of open, balanced and mutually beneficial cooperation with all its partners.
In the context of mining diplomacy, as a staunch patriot and advocate of pragmatic nationalism, Minister Watum invited Chinese investors to encourage their country, at all appropriate levels, including within international bodies such as the United Nations, to become more involved in defending legitimate investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He called for increased international mobilization to publicly condemn the persistent insecurity in the east of the country, support the Congolese government’s efforts to secure the country, and contribute to the defense of the DRC’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability. The China Molybdenum Company (CMOC) group is a leading mining operator in the DRC, active in particular through the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) and Kisanfu Mining (KFM) projects. ACP/