{"id":5448,"date":"2026-03-19T08:32:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T08:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/?p=5448"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:04:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:04:05","slug":"companies-currently-operating-in-the-katanga-copper-cobalt-belt-and-their-ownership-structures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/companies-currently-operating-in-the-katanga-copper-cobalt-belt-and-their-ownership-structures\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies currently operating in the Katanga copper-cobalt belt and their Ownership structures"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-path-to-node=\"0\">In the southern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2014primarily the provinces of <b data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"86\">Lualaba<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"98\">Haut-Katanga<\/b>\u2014the mining landscape is vastly different from the chaotic, militia-run artisanal sites of the East. Here, the industry is dominated by massive industrial complexes owned by some of the world&#8217;s largest multinational corporations.<\/p><div class=\"03bb5c02e2f58c6bb7f372bc13011e34\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size:10px;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8677361123316975\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- ZXZ -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8677361123316975\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3054782407\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br><br \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\">As of early <b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"12\">2026<\/b>, the ownership of these &#8220;tier-one&#8221; assets is concentrated among a few key players from China, Europe, and Canada, typically in joint ventures with the Congolese state-owned miner, <b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"197\">G\u00e9camines<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\">\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"2\" \/>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"3\">1. The Powerhouse Players: Ownership Structure 2026<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\">The following table breaks down the most significant copper and cobalt operations in the Katanga Copperbelt:<\/p>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"5\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Mine \/ Project<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Key Owner(s)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Ownership Stake<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Project Type<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Kamoa-Kakula<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Ivanhoe Mines<\/b> (Canada)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">Zijin Mining<\/b> (China)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,3\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,4\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,1,4\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">DRC Government<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,2,0\">39.6%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,1,2,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,2,2\">39.6%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,1,2,3\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,2,4\">20.0%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,1,3,0\">Copper (Highest Grade globally)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Tenke Fungurume (TFM)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,2,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">CMOC Group<\/b> (China)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,2,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,2,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">G\u00e9camines<\/b> (DRC State)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,2,0\">80%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,2,2,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,2,2,2\">20%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,2,3,0\">Copper &amp; Cobalt<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Kamoto Copper Co (KCC)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,3,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,3,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Glencore<\/b> (Swiss\/UK)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,3,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,3,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,3,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">G\u00e9camines<\/b> (DRC State)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,3,2,0\">75%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,3,2,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,3,2,2\">25%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,3,3,0\">Copper &amp; Cobalt<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Kisanfu (KFM)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,4,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">CMOC Group<\/b> (China)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,4,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,4,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,4,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">Contemporary Amperex (CATL)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,4,2,0\">71.25%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,4,2,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,4,2,2\">23.75%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,4,3,0\">Cobalt (Largest undeveloped)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,5,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Mutanda Mining (MUMI)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,5,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Glencore<\/b> (Swiss\/UK)<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,5,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,5,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,5,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">DRC Government<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,5,2,0\">~100% (State stake pending)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,5,3,0\">Copper &amp; Cobalt<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,6,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Sicomines<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,6,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,6,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">China Railway \/ Sinohydro<\/b><\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,6,1,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,6,1,2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,6,1,2\" data-index-in-node=\"1\">G\u00e9camines<\/b> (DRC State)<\/p><div class=\"03bb5c02e2f58c6bb7f372bc13011e34\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size:10px;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8677361123316975\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- ZXZ -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8677361123316975\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3054782407\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br><br \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,6,2,0\">68%<\/p>\n<p><br data-path-to-node=\"5,6,2,1\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,6,2,2\">32%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,6,3,0\">Copper &amp; Cobalt (Infrastructure deal)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Kinsevere<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,7,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">MMG Limited<\/b> (China\/International)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,7,2,0\">100%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"5,7,3,0\">Copper<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"6\" \/>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"7\"><\/h2>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"7\">2. Key Recent Developments (2025\u20132026)<\/h2>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"8\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The China Dominance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\">China continues to hold a strategic &#8220;stranglehold&#8221; on the region. <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"66\">CMOC Group<\/b> is now the world\u2019s leading producer of cobalt, having successfully expanded both <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"158\">Tenke Fungurume<\/b> and the <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"182\">Kisanfu (KFM)<\/b> project. Their dominance is bolstered by their partnership with <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"260\">CATL<\/b>, the world&#8217;s largest EV battery manufacturer, ensuring a direct pipeline from Congolese soil to electric car batteries.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"10\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"10\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Rise of Kamoa-Kakula<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">Owned by billionaire Robert Friedland\u2019s <b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"40\">Ivanhoe Mines<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"58\">Zijin Mining<\/b>, this project is the success story of the region. Despite a minor production cap in early 2026 due to seismic repairs, it remains Africa\u2019s largest copper producer. In <b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"238\">January 2026<\/b>, the complex successfully produced its first copper anodes from its new on-site smelter, a major step toward the DRC&#8217;s goal of processing minerals locally rather than exporting raw ore.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"12\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"12\"><b data-path-to-node=\"12\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Glencore and the Quota System<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\">As of 2026, the Congolese government has implemented a <b data-path-to-node=\"13\" data-index-in-node=\"55\">Cobalt Export Quota System<\/b> (managed by ARECOMS) to control global prices. <b data-path-to-node=\"13\" data-index-in-node=\"129\">Glencore<\/b> was the first company designated to test this system, signifying a more regulated\u2014but still tense\u2014relationship between Western miners and the Congolese state.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\">\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"14\" \/>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"15\">3. The Role of the State: G\u00e9camines<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">While foreign companies operate the mines, <b data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"43\">G\u00e9camines<\/b> (La G\u00e9n\u00e9rale des Carri\u00e8res et des Mines) remains the &#8220;gatekeeper.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"17\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Strategy:<\/b> The state has shifted from being a passive partner to an active auditor. In recent years, they have aggressively renegotiated contracts (most notably with CMOC) to secure higher royalties and &#8220;settlement payments&#8221; totaling billions of dollars.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Revenue Gap:<\/b> Despite these billions in royalties, very little of this wealth reaches the average citizen in Kolwezi or Lubumbashi, often disappearing into &#8220;state-directed&#8221; infrastructure projects or political coffers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"18\" \/>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"19\">4. Summary of Strategic Interests<\/h2>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"20\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">China:<\/b> Views the Katanga region as a national security asset for its EV and tech industries.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The West:<\/b> Companies like <b data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"25\">Glencore<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"20,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"38\">Ivanhoe<\/b> focus on high-efficiency, high-ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) production to satisfy the &#8220;responsible sourcing&#8221; demands of Apple, Tesla, and European markets.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"20,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"20,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The DRC:<\/b> Attempting to leverage &#8220;Green Metal&#8221; demand to force international players to build infrastructure (smelters, roads, and power plants) through a &#8220;Value Addition&#8221; policy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the southern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo\u2014primarily the provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga\u2014the mining landscape is vastly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[182,190],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deep-dives","category-mining"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5448"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5449,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5448\/revisions\/5449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xeroltha.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}