The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying efforts to develop its domestic mineral processing industry through a new partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Government of Japan.
The partnership was formalised with the launch of the Essential Minerals for the Energy Transition in the DRC (METE) project in Kinshasa by Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya. The initiative aims to promote local mineral beneficiation, expand industrial capacity and increase the economic value generated from the country’s mineral resources.
With technical assistance from UNCTAD and financial support from Japan, the project will focus on identifying industrial opportunities, developing domestic value chains and creating employment in the mining and manufacturing sectors.
Key minerals targeted by the programme include copper, cobalt, lithium and manganese, all of which play an increasingly important role in the global energy transition through their use in electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and battery storage systems.
The initiative seeks to reduce the DRC’s dependence on unprocessed mineral exports by encouraging greater investment in local processing and manufacturing. By retaining more value within the country, the government aims to increase mineral revenues, strengthen industrial development and create long-term employment opportunities.
As part of its implementation, the project will establish a strategic information portal to provide access to relevant industry data and market intelligence. This is expected to support informed decision-making by government authorities and help investors identify opportunities for industrial diversification.
At the launch, Paluku highlighted the importance of the partnership in advancing the country’s economic transformation and ensuring that more value is generated from its natural resources. He stressed that developing local beneficiation capacity is critical to maximising the DRC’s position in the global critical minerals market.
UNCTAD expert Clovis Freire Junior noted that the initiative would draw on experiences from similar programmes in Zambia, Namibia and Madagascar. He also announced that training for Congolese specialists would commence in the coming months to strengthen technical skills and build the expertise required to support the programme.
Japan reiterated its commitment to the project, with Hotta Yuko, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in the DRC, confirming the country’s continued financial support.
The launch brought together Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity Aimé Molendo Sakombi, government officials, technical experts and private sector representatives, reflecting a shared commitment to developing the DRC’s mineral processing capabilities and increasing its participation in global critical minerals value chains.
