By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
DRC Insists on Cobalt Export Quotas, Rejects Pressure from Chinese Mining Firms
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reaffirmed its decision to enforce cobalt export quotas despite opposition from Chinese mining companies, stressing that the country will not allow its resources to be dictated by foreign interests.
Mining Minister Louis Watum Kabamba, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a Cobalt Institute seminar in New York on Wednesday, said the government’s priority is to secure fair value for its cobalt exports by encouraging more local processing and reducing reliance on raw exports.
“We cannot let other people decide for us. Whether there will be a stockpile or not is secondary. The most important thing is to obtain a fairer price,” Watum said.
The new system, set to begin on October 16, will replace an export ban imposed earlier in February. Under the policy, mining companies will be allowed to export up to 18,125 tonnes of cobalt for the remainder of 2025, with annual limits of 96,600 tonnes for 2026 and 2027.
Congo currently supplies about 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries. The quota system has been welcomed by Glencore, the world’s second-largest producer, but opposed by China Molybdenum (CMOC), whose production capacity exceeds the government’s imposed limits.
“We will not be controlled by the Chinese or by anyone, but ourselves. A country that supplies 70 percent of the world’s cobalt must have a say in pricing,” the minister added.
Watum noted that while revisions to the quotas may be considered in the future, no timeline has been set. He also warned that the government would continue to reclaim concessions from companies that fail to develop their assigned mining assets.
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