The Structural Barriers to the DRC’s Downstream Cobalt Strategy
The DRC dominates global cobalt mining but exports much of the material as hydroxide. Rebuilding downstream capacity requires more than another restriction on unprocessed exports.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s cobalt advantage weakens after the first stages of processing. Ore mined in the Copperbelt is concentrated and commonly converted into cobalt hydroxide, but much of the refining into metal or battery-grade chemicals occurs outside the country.
This is not because the DRC has never processed cobalt. Facilities including Luilu and Shituru formed part of an earlier metallurgical system built around Gécamines. At its 1980s peak, that system combined mines, processing plants, technical labour and state-backed infrastructure.
The subsequent decline of Gécamines damaged more than production. It weakened the industrial network needed to maintain and finance complex processing facilities.
Export restrictions cannot build refineries
Kinshasa has repeatedly restricted exports of copper and cobalt concentrates. A June 29, 2026 order again prohibited their export, while allowing one-year exemptions in strategic circumstances. Reuters report on the order
The measure encourages miners to undertake more processing domestically, but it does not resolve the economics of producing cobalt sulphate or battery materials.
New facilities require dependable electricity, industrial water, transport infrastructure, technical expertise, long-term financing and customers prepared to purchase the finished product. Investors must also compare a Congolese project with existing refining capacity—particularly in China, where several operators already have downstream plants.
There is also an important distinction between processing and refining. The DRC already converts substantial quantities of mined material into exportable hydroxide. Moving from hydroxide to battery-grade chemicals requires another level of purification, quality control and customer qualification.
Official first-quarter figures cited by Reuters show that the country exported 51,940 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide containing 17,054 tonnes of cobalt. For now, that trade pattern defines the industrial gap: Congolese operations perform the initial processing, while higher-value chemical conversion remains concentrated elsewhere
