In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), cobalt mining has not yet reached the stage of systematic underground extraction and is primarily conducted through open-pit methods. The northwestern part of the Katanga Copper Belt stands out as a "domain of giants," hosting world-class copper-cobalt mines such as Mutanda, Katanga, and Tenke. Mutanda and Tenke alone contribute over 40% of the global cobalt supply, with operational lifespans exceeding 25 years.

A vast copper-cobalt deposit belt stretches from Lubumbashi, located on the northern edge of the Katanga Plateau, into Zambia. This mineralized trend extends over 500 kilometers, resembling a "treasure box" slanting into the earth. The DRC side corresponds to the upper part of this structure, where deposits are mostly near the surface, making open-pit mines a common sight. Many local miners easily extract ore with copper and cobalt grades exceeding 30% directly from surface outcrops.

Reserves & Production

• Global cobalt reserves: approximately 3.6 million tonnes, with      the DRC accounting for over 50% (USGS 2023).
• DRC production (2023): 145,000 tonnes, representing 75% of      global output—a 6% year-on-year increase (Central Bank of Congo data).

Key Mines

• Kolwezi: The world's largest cobalt      mine, with reserves exceeding 2.5 million tonnes.
• Kamoa-Kakula: A joint venture      between China's Zijin Mining and Ivanhoe Mines. By 2024, the project is      expected to reach an annual production capacity of 600,000 tonnes of      copper, with cobalt by-product output exceeding 50,000 tonnes per year.