The Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances Markets (ARECOMS) has unveiled new measures governing cobalt export quotas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — the world’s leading supplier of the battery metal crucial to electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
The new regulation, outlined in Decision No. 005/ARECOMS/2025 and dated October 10, 2025, sets detailed procedures for obtaining, allocating, and managing export quotas for cobalt. It builds on an earlier framework — Decision No. 004/ARECOMS/2025 issued in September — that first introduced a quota-based system for strategic minerals.
According to ARECOMS, the new rules aim to improve transparency, accountability, and sustainability in the DRC’s cobalt sector while strengthening the government’s oversight of mineral exports.
Quota Distribution and Allocation Framework
Under the updated system, cobalt export quotas will be calculated based on the contained cobalt metal equivalent, ensuring a standardized approach across producers. For the final quarter of 2025, ARECOMS has set the following export volumes:
- October 2025: 3,625 tonnes
- November 2025: 7,250 tonnes
- December 2025: 7,250 tonnes
These allocations will be distributed proportionally to companies’ historical export volumes between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, as outlined in Article 6 of the September decree.
Eligibility and Exclusions
The regulator also introduced eligibility conditions to ensure that only active, compliant producers benefit from the system. Excluded from the basic quota are:
- Companies that exported less than 100 tonnes of cobalt in 2024, except for the General Cobalt Company;
- Companies owning refining facilities but without active mining operations over the past five years;
- Entities whose cobalt reserves have been depleted.
ARECOMS stated that these measures are designed to support legitimate operators, prevent speculative trading, and promote responsible production practices across the DRC’s cobalt supply chain.
Strengthening Oversight of a Global Resource
Supplying over 70% of the world’s cobalt, the DRC plays a pivotal role in the global energy transition. The introduction of a structured quota system signals a major policy shift aimed at balancing export control with market stability.
Industry analysts say the move could help stabilize cobalt prices, optimize export monitoring, and enhance government revenues — while positioning the DRC to capture more value from its mineral wealth.
By tightening control and improving governance, ARECOMS is taking a decisive step toward ensuring that the DRC’s cobalt industry evolves into a transparent, equitable, and globally competitive sector aligned with sustainable development goals.
