The Democratic Republic of Congo has partially eased restrictions on artisanal copper-cobalt processing in Lualaba, the country’s main center for artisanal activity in the sector, Ecofin Agency reported.
Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba announced that the suspension of mining and commercial activities for artisanal mineral processing entities in the copper-cobalt value chain operating in the province had been lifted “partially and temporarily.”
The decision was confirmed in a ministry statement published on January 5, 2026, following compliance inspections carried out in Kolwezi. According to the statement, “At the end of the commission’s work (established on December 26), organized into three sub-commissions (administrative and legal, technical, and traceability and compliance), the commission found violations of the Mining Code and Mining Regulations by all processing entities.”
The minister described the move as a transitional measure designed to give operators time to bring their activities into compliance. “The maintenance or definitive lifting of the suspension will remain conditional on the effective regularization of each processing entity,” the statement added.
Authorities said each processing entity will be notified within 72 hours of the publication. These individual notices will outline the corrective actions required to address administrative, technical, and traceability shortcomings and will indicate, where applicable, financial penalties to be paid under existing mining legislation.
Don’t Miss This:
DRC, Leading Global Cobalt Supplier, Extends Export Ban Amid Persistent Market Oversupply
The partial lifting does not apply to Luilu Resources. The ministry said the company failed to provide credible documentation relating to its technical operations and mineral traceability during the review process.
Authorities have instructed the company to appear again before the commission in Lubumbashi within three days, with the required documents, or face sanctions proportional to the seriousness of the violations.
A similar transitional approach has been adopted for Haut-Katanga, another province with significant artisanal copper-cobalt activity. While inspections are still pending, authorities have temporarily authorized processing entities in the province to receive minerals already located at legal or tolerated artisanal sites.
These operations will be overseen by provincial services, including the provincial mining division, the provincial directorate of SAEMAPE, the provincial ministry of Mines, as well as representatives of cooperatives and traders.
Since December 19, 2025, authorities have suspended the activities of all artisanal mineral processing entities in the copper-cobalt sector nationwide.
The mines minister said the suspension is part of the implementation of the roadmap of the National Commission to Combat Mining Fraud, with the goal of cleaning up the artisanal mineral supply chain and ensuring compliance with OECD due diligence principles and the national traceability manual.
Don’t Miss This:
Costs Of EV Battery Material Cobalt Hydroxide Surge On Congo Export Restrictions
Image Credit: The Guardian Nigeria News
