Copper: the future second largest mine in the world enters into activity in the DRC

Audio 01:36

Ultimately, the mine could extract more than 800,000 tonnes of copper per year according to estimates provided by the mining group.

REUTERS / Moritz Hager

By: Marie-Pierre Olphand Follow

2 min

Kamoa is a name that should perhaps bring big returns to the DRC in the coming years.

The name of a new copper mine which came on stream at the start of the summer, and which could very quickly earn the title of the world's second copper mine.

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The Kaoma Kakula mine, in the province of Lualaba, is a new gift from the Congolese subsoil.

The deposits which have just entered production just before the summer show an exceptional copper content of 6%.

Ultimately, the mine could extract more than 800,000 tonnes of copper per year, according to estimates provided by the mining group.

Enough to boost the country's copper production by 60%.

A new windfall for the DRC which will further consolidate its position as the continent's leading producer of red metal, ahead of Zambia.

Ore destined for China

For the exploitation of this mine, as for the other deposits of the country, the State will recover

according to the exported volume.

Its 20% stake in the project will also be another source of income, depending on the profits.

China, which today sucks 40% of the world's copper, will be the main buyer of Congolese ore.

Not surprisingly, given the largely Chinese investments.

With Kamoa Kakula, the DRC is expected to provide 2-3% of the world's copper.

And therefore significantly increase supply at a time when demand is only growing under pressure from the search for less polluting energies for the atmosphere.

“ 

 ”, specifies the contributor to the Cyclops report, the French annual bible of raw materials, on the subject.

Ultimately, this new supply of Congolese red metal could help lower prices and influence the profitability of other projects.

Producing "clean" copper: a challenge for the DRC

Seeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo owning the second largest copper mine in the world is not trivial, however, says a mining consultant, who recalls that the country is now giving cobalt buyers a cold sweat, who seek to stand out. of the bad image that sticks to the management of Congolese mining resources.

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