THE Democratic Republic of Congo plans to tighten state control over geological data used by mining companies, Reuters reported.
The move could give the country greater sway over future mineral discoveries and investment,
Congo is stepping up geological mapping, airborne surveys and the digitisation of historical records to build a national databank covering its critical minerals.
The database is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
A nationwide mapping programme gained pace this year after a $180m contract with Spain’s Xcalibur began in January. The project is surveying more than 700,000 square kilometres to identify exploration targets.
Despite holding some of the world’s richest copper, cobalt, lithium, tantalum and gold deposits, only about 20% of Congo has been systematically explored.
Exploration spending reached $130.7m in 2024, the highest in Africa, but remains concentrated in the copper-cobalt belt.
Unlike major mining jurisdictions that provide largely free access to geological information, Congo plans a tiered system. Basic data will be free, while companies will pay for more sensitive information.
Greater state control could influence where exploration money is spent and which copper, cobalt, germanium and other critical-mineral deposits are developed.
Congo, the world’s largest cobalt producer and second-biggest copper supplier, says the same access rules will apply to investors regardless of origin.
