DRC-USA: 50 projects submitted and 100,000 tons of copper for the American market

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has submitted around fifty projects to the United States, while Gécamines plans to market 100,000 tons of copper from Tenke Fungurume to the American market in 2026. These two initiatives underscore the economic partnership that Kinshasa aims to accelerate with Washington.

USA task force has been established to monitor commitments, coordinate the proposed projects, and prepare the expected responses from the American side. The Congolese government states that it has already submitted its portfolio and is awaiting decisions on some of the financing and assets involved.

This rapprochement occurs in a sector characterized by strong strategic competition. The DRC is the world’s leading producer of cobalt and the second-largest producer of copper. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation estimates that Chinese companies own or operate up to 80% of the DRC’s critical mineral production.

Gécamines is also seeking to gain better control over the marketing of volumes related to its stakes. At Tenke Fungurume, the state-owned company exercised its purchase right on 100,000 tons of copper, corresponding to 20% of the 2026 production, with the announced destination being the American market.

Gécamines aims to sell a larger share of its production directly.

The mechanism used at Tenke Fungurume marks a shift in Gécamines’ commercial strategy. The company no longer wants to rely solely on dividends from its joint ventures. It is also utilizing its contractual rights to purchase volumes directly and resell them on the international market.

This policy extends to other assets. At the end of January, Gécamines awarded copper and cobalt lots from its stake in Kambove Mining to Vitol and MRI. The company explains that it has been increasing its calls for tenders since 2024 to broaden the number of traders and enhance its ability to market directly the volumes to which it is entitled.

The partnership with Washington also includes a proposed joint venture between Gécamines and Mercuria. In December 2025, the U.S. DFC announced a letter of interest for a stake in this structure. The stated goal is to enhance transparency and competition while securing American and allied access to copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals.

This opening does not jeopardize the Chinese presence in the Congolese mining sector in the short term. Tenke Fungurume remains controlled by CMOC, and several major mines in the country are linked to Chinese groups. The new agreements primarily provide Gécamines with more options to distribute its volumes among multiple buyers.

The projects submitted to Washington still depend on financing.

The partnership also focuses on the infrastructure necessary for transporting minerals. The DFC is already financing the Lobito corridor with a $553 million loan aimed at modernizing over 1,300 kilometers of railway in Angola and the port facilities at Lobito. The agency has also announced a letter of interest related to the rehabilitation of the Dilolo-Sakania line in the DRC.

Kinshasa is simultaneously seeking private capital for energy, transportation, and industrial transformation. In June, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa met with a consortium comprising Mida Advisors, Standard Bank, and Bank of America. The group presented long-term financing mechanisms for several infrastructure projects.

The task force must now connect these potential financings with the fifty projects already submitted to the United States. The Congolese government clarifies that not all projects will be funded by Washington and that some, including Inga, will require multiple investors gathered around a common structure.

Gécamines has scheduled the 100,000 tons of copper from Tenke Fungurume for the entire 2026 fiscal year.