DRC Considers Expanding ‘Strategic Minerals’ List Amidst Surging Global Demand
Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of congo (DRC) is evaluating its list of designated “strategic minerals” – currently limited to cobalt, germanium, and columbo-tantalite (coltan) – as global demand for these resources is projected to skyrocket in the coming decades. A government working group, supported by the NGO Ressource Matters, is developing a national strategy to redefine which minerals warrant special attention and investment, potentially adding copper to the list.
The current designation, initially established to mirror a “cobalt boom,” is now under scrutiny. Former Mines Minister Simon Tuma Waku argues the existing criteria are insufficient, noting that coltan production remains largely artisanal and germanium is solely produced by the STL company. “How many tonnes of columbo-tantalite do we produce? For the moment, production is artisanal,” Waku stated. “These are all the minerals that must be considered strategic.”
The impetus for review stems from projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicating a potential quadrupling in global demand for key minerals by 2050. Fabien Mayani, head of the climate program at the Carter Center, anticipates DRC copper production coudl need to increase from 3 million tonnes today to 15-20 million tonnes by 2050, while cobalt demand could surge from 200,000 tonnes to one million tonnes.
The emerging national strategy will also focus on defining investor profiles, clarifying the role of the state, and expanding quota systems beyond cobalt, according to Jimmy Munguriek, representative of Ressource Matters in the DRC. The Ministry of Mines has pledged to incorporate recommendations from civil society into the new policy.
