Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa’s largest producer of cobalt and one of the world’s most important sources of critical minerals, is taking steps to significantly increase its share of revenues from the global energy transition as demand for battery metals and strategic resources continues to rise. The country supplies more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, a key component used in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage systems, and advanced technologies.
Authorities in Kinshasa have introduced a series of measures aimed at strengthening state control over mineral wealth, including export quotas, a strategic cobalt reserve, and tighter oversight of mining revenues. According to Reuters, the government recently created a national reserve for cobalt and other strategic minerals to help influence global supply, stabilise prices, and increase national earnings from the sector.
The government has also intensified efforts to improve revenue collection and transparency within the mining industry. Reuters reported that President Felix Tshisekedi ordered a major audit of copper and cobalt export revenues after concerns that billions of dollars in mineral wealth were not fully benefiting the state despite record production levels.
Analysts say the DRC’s strategy reflects a broader trend among resource-rich African nations seeking greater value from critical minerals that are central to the global clean energy transition. Experts from the World Economic Forum note that Africa currently captures only a fraction of the total value generated from its mineral resources because most processing and manufacturing occur outside the continent. Increasing local beneficiation, refining, and regional industrial integration could allow countries like the DRC to retain far more revenue, create jobs, and strengthen long-term economic development.
