The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended operations at a Chinese-owned cobalt mine following a catastrophic dam collapse that flooded parts of Kolwezi, one of the country’s key mining cities. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, has left several people missing and caused widespread destruction, according to government officials.
In a statement released Thursday, Congo’s Ministry of Mines said the suspension would remain in place pending a full investigation into the dam’s structural failure and the mine’s compliance with environmental and safety standards. “We cannot continue operations at a site that endangers lives and the environment,” the ministry said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to stricter mining oversight.
The affected mine, operated by Zhonghe Mining Group, is among the largest producers of cobalt in Lualaba province, a region central to the global supply chain for electric vehicle batteries. Local media reports indicated that heavy flooding from the dam’s collapse damaged homes, displaced hundreds, and disrupted transport routes vital to the mining sector.
As reported by Reuters and Bloomberg, the Congolese government has increasingly faced pressure to regulate foreign-owned mines, particularly Chinese operators, amid concerns over labor conditions, environmental degradation, and uneven profit distribution. The suspension underscores President Félix Tshisekedi’s recent pledge to ensure “responsible and transparent” resource management.
Officials said rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing, while an inter-ministerial committee has been established to assess the damage and recommend sanctions if negligence is confirmed. The Ministry of Mines added that operations would only resume once safety standards and environmental restoration plans are verified.
