{"id":42711,"date":"2026-09-25T18:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/?post_type=publication&p=42711"},"modified":"2026-09-25T18:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T16:00:16","slug":"realities-of-artisanal-and-small-scale-copper-and-cobalt-mining-in-lualaba-province-drc","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/nl\/publication\/realities-of-artisanal-and-small-scale-copper-and-cobalt-mining-in-lualaba-province-drc\/","title":{"rendered":"Realities of artisanal and small-scale copper and cobalt mining in Lualaba province, DRC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Copper and cobalt are vital to the DRC\u2019s economy, accounting for 90% of its total export value in 2023. With vast reserves concentrated in the Copperbelt that stretches across the southeastern provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, the DRC is at the center of global competition for the two minerals, which are indispensable for energy transitions and electrification. China currently dominates the sector through a series of joint ventures with Congolese state-owned enterprises, while Europe and the US are seeking to secure supply, including through strategic partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alongside large-scale mining (LSM) companies, over a hundred thousand artisanal miners dig for copper and cobalt in the region. Although industrial actors tend to distance themselves from artisanal and small-scale mining (<\/em>ASM) to avoid reputational risks \u2013 linked to the hazardous labor conditions and child labor associated with ASM \u2013 the two sectors are closely interlinked. Due to a lack of dedicated zones, artisanal mining largely occurs on industrial concessions and in residential areas, constituting a concern for both industry and the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand the copper and cobalt ASM sector and its challenges, IPIS collaborated with the Congolese mining service SAEMAPE and the Kolwezi-based civil society organization IBGDH, to map 51 ASM sites in Lualaba province<\/strong> and interview key mining stakeholders. The study examines production, supply chain actors and trade practices, interference of armed actors and the challenging coexistence of ASM with industrial actors, to identify key obstacles hindering the implementation of the regulatory framework and limiting the sector\u2019s potential for local development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download the report (ENG)<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The ASM landscape and domestic supply chain: Informality, elite capture, and foreign influence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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High global demand and prices make copper and cobalt artisanal mining a relatively lucrative activity, sustaining the livelihoods of many<\/strong> in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga. Despite the sector\u2019s male dominance, with women often excluded from the most lucrative on-site digging, the report shows that ASM still provides critical direct and indirect employment opportunities for women, allowing them to contribute to and benefit from the sector\u2019s economic gains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report also highlights how the copper and cobalt (ASM) sector has historically been influenced by international price fluctuations and industrial activities, with miners frequently switching between ores based on market conditions. In May 2025, at least 109,00 people, were actively engaged in copper and cobalt mining in the sites visited by IPIS. Exact production levels are, however, difficult to measure as origin data is often lost along the supply chain and ASM output is frequently mixed with industrial minerals during processing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Artisanal copper and cobalt mining sites visited in the province of Lualaba (2025).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Congolese Mining Code restricts ASM to designated Zones d\u2019Exploitation Artisanale (ZEAs)<\/em>. Due to a lack of (viable) ZEAs<\/strong>, many artisanal miners, however, operate informally on industrial concessions or in residential areas. As the report shows, while these activities are sometimes labeled \u201cclandestine\u201d, they are also sometimes \u201ctolerated\u201d by some industrial concession holders, to maintain social stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Office of the cooperative SCOOPS M.M. that controls artisanal operations in the Tshipuki mine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the Mining Code requires artisanal miners to operate in the context of a cooperative. In theory, cooperatives<\/strong> are set up by groups of artisanal miners to coordinate activities, share costs and revenues, and strengthen their bargaining power with public and private sector actors. However, cooperatives in Lualaba are often owned by individuals who employ artisanal miners, and at half of the visited mining sites, they were perceived as a burden for artisanal diggers. This was due to excessive production fees, a lack of investment, exploitative purchasing practices, and the semi-industrialization of mining activities at the expense of artisanal diggers. In recent years, semi-industrial mining<\/strong> has indeed emerged in response to depleting mineral deposits and the influence of foreign investors and local elites seeking to maximize profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Mining Code reserves artisanal digging and trading rights for Congolese nationals to promote the emergence of a local middle class, artisanal mining supply chains are dominated by foreign trade networks<\/strong>, primarily Chinese and Lebanese, which invest in local business operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Formalizing ASM: The obstacles ahead <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite its importance as a source of employment, the copper and cobalt ASM sector faces significant challenges that prevent local communities from fully benefiting. The report has identified several issues that undermine local development and contribute to a negative perception of the sector, overshadowing its economic importance. Key challenges include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n