The Democratic Republic of the Congo has launched its first pilot gold refinery in Kalemie, marking the first time the country will refine its gold domestically while tightening oversight of the sector.
The facility, DRC Gold Refinery S.A., is expected to process between 500 and 600 kilograms of gold per month, covering the full value chain from gold purchases to refining and the production of bullion bars.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo published on X, the refinery was inaugurated on March 11 in the presence of Louis Watum Kabamba, Guylain Nyembo and Julie Shiku.
During the launch, Kabamba said the refinery represents a turning point for the country’s mining sector, explaining that the DRC is building the ability to refine its own strategic minerals while providing fair pricing, transparent trading systems and better benefits for thousands of artisanal and small-scale miners.
He added that the facility will help the country position itself as a state exporter of refined gold with 99.9% purity.
The refinery is a partnership between state-backed DRC Gold Trading and Lunga Mining, aimed at formalizing gold trading and reducing widespread smuggling that has long deprived the government of revenue.
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The initiative reflects a wider shift across Africa, where governments are trying to capture more value from their mineral resources by developing local refining and processing capacity.
For many years, much of the continent’s gold has been exported in raw form, allowing foreign refineries to capture most of the value.
Countries such as Ghana and Tanzania have recently expanded their gold refining capacity, while Mali and Burkina Faso are exploring similar projects to strengthen state control over gold production and revenues.
During the ceremony, Kabamba praised Félix Tshisekedi for his leadership and vision in turning the country’s mineral wealth into a driver of national development.
Officials say the Kalemie refinery is a key step toward improving transparency in the gold trade while ensuring the DRC captures more economic value from one of its most important natural resources.
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Image Credit: Business Insider Africa
