DRC’s Gecamines Gets Rights to Market Kamoto Copper Output For 2 Years, 30% of Production

Reports reaching Topafricanews Business Desk indicate that DRC’s Gecamines has successfully secured rights to market about half of Kamoto Copper Co.’s output for at least the next two years and 30% of production thereafter.

The DRC government last week inked a deal to tender copper from a major Glencore Plc operation in the country, expanding the state miner’s trading of a metal that’s key to the energy transition.

Gecamines can seek buyers for KCC’s copper through its partnership with Mercuria Energy Group Ltd, according to a source, asking not to be identified discussing matters that aren’t public.

The commodity trading house provides financial, logistical and technical support to Gecamines’ newly created trading business.

Copper production in DRC is booming, rising to 3.5 million tons in 2025 and establishing the country as the world’s No. 2 supplier after Chile.

Prices have hit record highs this year, while demand is expected to soar as electric vehicles, renewable energy and data centers consume more of the metal.

Glencore’s two mines – KCC and Mutanda Mining – are among the biggest western-owned operations in the central African nation.

The DRC owns 30% of KCC, Gecamines can tender up to half of the mine’s copper in each of 2026 and 2027 — and if necessary a little longer — to make up for shortfalls in volumes it wasn’t able to market in the past two years.

KCC produced about 190,000 tons of copper last year but in the longer term it’s targeting annual output of 300,000 tons.

Glencore on Wednesday signed a separate agreement with Gecamines over a land package allowing KCC to achieve that goal.

Gecamines has a 25% interest in the Glencore unit, while Congo’s government holds an additional 5% stake.

Portfolio Minister Julie Shiku presided over the ceremony at which the marketing deal was signed.