China Expands Control of DRC Critical Minerals as Chinese Firms Enter 49 Projects

China is strengthening its position in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s critical minerals sector, with Chinese companies now involved in more than half of the country’s major critical mining projects.

The latest figures from a critical minerals database maintained by Africa Business+ in partnership with EY show that Chinese companies hold minority or majority interests in 54% of the DRC’s critical mining projects. The figure represents a significant increase from fewer than one-third of projects in 2023.

The expansion reflects Beijing’s long-term strategy of securing access to minerals considered essential to the global energy transition and advanced manufacturing industries.

The DRC is particularly important because of its vast copper and cobalt resources. The country is the world’s second-largest copper producer and remains one of the most important sources of cobalt, a key mineral used in batteries and other energy technologies.

Chinese involvement extends across both privately owned and state-owned companies, giving China a substantial presence throughout the DRC’s mining industry and associated supply chains.

The growing footprint also highlights the increasing competition among global powers for access to Africa’s critical minerals. Copper and cobalt are expected to remain strategically important as demand rises for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, energy storage and other technologies.

For the DRC, increased foreign investment provides opportunities to expand mining production, infrastructure and employment, while also raising questions about how much value can be retained locally through processing and industrial development.

The increase in Chinese participation from less than a third of critical mining projects in 2023 to 54% today demonstrates how quickly the competitive landscape is changing.

With 49 projects already involving Chinese companies, the DRC is becoming an increasingly important centre of China’s broader strategy to secure critical mineral supply chains while positioning itself in the global race for copper, cobalt and other strategic resources.