Category: DRC

Africa, Congo, DRC

Business Opportunities in the DRC

Jul 13, 2025 by source 0 Comments #Business, #trade

Economic Opportunities for U.S. Companies & Investors

1. Critical Minerals & Mining Investment

  • The DRC holds ~80% of global cobalt and has significant copper, lithium, coltan, tin, and gold reserves.
  • A minerals-for-security deal is progressing, backed by U.S. involvement via the DFC and private-sector partnerships (e.g., KoBold Metals, Orion, Rio Tinto).
  • Opportunity for American firms to lead in ethically sourced and value-added processing, especially amid local moves to retain processing domestically.

2. Energy & Infrastructure

  • Vast hydroelectric potential from the Congo River and low electrification rates in rural areas .
  • U.S.–Africa Energy Forum highlights push for rural electrification and regional export schemes—ripe for U.S. tech and utility investment Energy Capital & Power.

3. Agriculture & Food Processing

  • With fertile land and agricultural staples like cassava, palm oil, rubber, coffee, and cocoa, there are large-scale farming and value-chain investing opportunities .
  • American agritech and food-processing companies can support modernization in plantation farming, storage, and logistics.

4. Security & Governance Partnerships

  • The East Congo region faces rebel instability (M23), but a recent peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda (June 2025) is a huge step forward toward peace and improving political and investment climates.
  • Holistic deals pairing security aid with private-sector projects may open doors for U.S. firms working in digital governance, risk management, and infrastructure security.

5. Sustainable Forestry & Ecotourism

  • The DRC’s Congo Basin rainforest is globally significant. Sustainable timber, carbon credits, and ecotourism are potential areas for U.S.-based ESG investors .

6. Value-Chain Development & Local Processing

  • Resource nationalism is growing: cobalt export bans in early 2025 and export-processing schemes encourage local refining .
  • U.S. companies can collaborate on creating processing hubs, industrial zones, and public-private partnerships. This provides value-addition, jobs, and tech transfer benefits.

Additionally, a new deepwater container port, The Port of Banana, is currently under construction and will soon dramatically streamline containerized shipments to and from the DRC.

Port of Banana in the DRC
Congo, DRC, Shipping

DRC getting new deep water container port

Jul 13, 2025 by source 0 Comments #Port, #Shipping, #trade

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will soon have its cargo capacity significantly upgraded, which will streamline all aspects of international containerized trade and cargo handling in the country.

DP World has announced the development of the Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in partnership with Portuguese firm Mota-Engil. Located in Kongo Central province along the Atlantic coast, the port aims to strengthen the DRC’s trade infrastructure and become its primary maritime gateway for containerised cargo.

The project will be executed in phases:

Phase one includes a 600-meter quay, 450,000 TEU capacity, and a 30-hectare storage area, capable of handling the world’s largest ships.

Phase two will extend the quay by over two kilometers. The port will also centralise customs and administrative operations, improving trade efficiency and government oversight.

Currently, container trade in the DRC is managed by the inland ports of Matadi and Boma, which handle imports, bulk cargo, and agricultural exports like timber and bananas.

The vision is for Banana to become a gateway to international markets for DRC, promoting its logistical independence and sovereignty over foreign trade. The project is expected to transform the DRC’s trade landscape by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, reducing business costs, and reinforcing the country’s position as a key trade hub in the region.

Read more at Seatrade Maritime News

Angola, Congo, DRC, Mining, Refining, Tanzania, Zambia

Mining and Refining Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, and Coltan

Dec 29, 2024 by source 0 Comments

Mining and refining minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, and coltan involve distinct processes due to differences in their geological occurrence, extraction methods, and refining requirements.

Cobalt

  • Mining: Cobalt is typically mined as a byproduct of copper or nickel mining, especially in regions like the DRC (Congo-Kinshasa). Open-pit or underground mining is used depending on the depth of the deposits.
  • Refining: Cobalt refining involves separating it from associated metals through hydrometallurgical processes such as leaching, solvent extraction, and electro-winning. High-purity cobalt is critical for battery production and industrial applications.

Lithium

  • Mining: Lithium is extracted from two main sources: spodumene (hard rock deposits) and lithium brine (found in salt flats). Hard rock mining requires crushing and processing ores, while brine extraction involves pumping underground saltwater to the surface for evaporation.
  • Refining: Refining lithium involves chemical processing to convert spodumene or brine into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, the forms used in batteries. This is an energy-intensive process that requires careful environmental management.

Nickel

  • Mining: Nickel is mined from lateritic (surface) deposits and sulfide ores. Laterite mining is generally open-pit, while sulfide ores can require underground methods.
  • Refining: Refining nickel depends on the ore type. Sulfide ores are refined through smelting and electro-refining, while laterites require high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) to extract nickel. Nickel is a vital component in stainless steel and high-performance batteries.
Coltan ore contains metals of Tantalum and Niobium without them the productions of smart phones, laptops and condensers of all other electronic products related to contemporary world.

Coltan

  • Mining: Coltan (a source of tantalum and niobium) is often mined artisanally in the DRC and other parts of Africa. This involves manual digging and sifting of riverbeds and soil, making it labor-intensive and prone to ethical concerns.
  • Refining: Refining coltan involves chemical processing to extract tantalum and niobium, which are used in electronics and aerospace components. The refining process is highly specialized due to the high melting points and reactive nature of these metals.
Africa, Angola, Congo, DRC, Mining, Zambia

Unlocking the Potential: Mining, Rail and Industrial Opportunities in Africa

Dec 29, 2024 by source 0 Comments

Africa is home to vast and untapped mineral wealth, offering an unparalleled opportunity for economic development and sustainable growth. As global demand for essential minerals such as lithium, cobalt, tantalum, gold, and rare earth elements surges, the region stands at the forefront of a new era in mining expansion. Our team is uniquely positioned to lead transformative projects that not only harness these resources but work in partnership with local communities to maximize efficiency and boost output.

Africa, Angola, Congo, DRC, Mining, Tanzania, Zambia

Navigating Challenges in African Mining

Mar 3, 2024 by source 0 Comments

Mining development in Sub-Saharan Africa is not without its challenges. Political instability, regulatory compliance, and logistical constraints require careful navigation. Our team’s experience in risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and compliance ensures that we can overcome these hurdles effectively.

By fostering strong partnerships with local governments, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders, we aim to create a collaborative ecosystem that benefits all parties involved. Additionally, we emphasize transparency and adherence to international mining standards to build trust and long-term sustainability.

Africa, Angola, Congo, DRC, Minerals, Refining, Tanzania, Zambia

Unlocking Opportunities in Lithium and Cobalt

Mar 3, 2024 by source 0 Comments

With the growing demand for batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, lithium and cobalt have become indispensable. The DRC alone accounts for over 70% of the world’s cobalt supply, making it a critical player in the global supply chain. Our team is working on innovative solutions to responsibly extract these minerals while addressing supply chain transparency and ethical sourcing concerns.

In collaboration with local governments and stakeholders, we aim to establish processing facilities closer to mining sites. This not only reduces export dependency but also generates additional value within the region, creating jobs and fostering economic diversification.

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