EU Backs DRC Mining Reforms with Targeted Support for Cobalt and Geological Data

June 26 — The European Union has unveiled fresh backing for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector, unveiling two strategic initiatives designed to bolster responsible sourcing and enhance geological knowledge.

The first move sees EU funding channeled into the “Cobalt for Development” initiative. Spearheaded by Germany’s GIZ and Congo’s state-owned Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, the project will start with pilot programs aimed at improving environmental protections and working conditions in the country’s artisanal cobalt mining industry.

In tandem, the EU is preparing to launch Panafgeo+, a new geological mapping program in partnership with France’s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research and Belgium’s Royal Museum for Central Africa. The project will assist DRC’s Ministry of Mines and National Geological Service in digitizing and strengthening the country’s geological records.

These efforts fall under a broader EU strategy to secure ethical and sustainable access to vital raw materials—particularly cobalt—which are central to the clean energy and digital transitions.