DRC’s Gécamines to Sell 100,000 Tons of Copper to the US Market

Kinshasa/Washington January 14, 2026 - The Congolese state-owned mining company Gécamines announced that it will purchase 100,000 tons of copper from the 2026 production of the Tenke Fungurume Mine (TFM) for direct sale to the US market. According to Gécamines, this marks the first direct purchase of volumes reserved for the state under one of its mining partnerships, representing 20% of TFM's production, aligned with Gécamines’ stake in the project. The operation is expected to be executed throughout the 2026 fiscal year, in line with provisions of recent agreements between the DRC and the United States. “This first marketing operation continues our competitive pricing strategy and strengthens the DRC’s position on the global commodities market,” said Guy-Robert Lukama, Chairman of the Board of Gécamines. CEO Placide Nkala Basadilua added, “This transaction is the culmination of over a year of work to assert the sovereignty of the Congolese state over its natural resources and improve the pricing and taxation of metals produced in the DRC.” Gécamines highlighted that, since the late 1990s, the marketing of Congolese metals has largely been handled by foreign companies, and that recent competitive bidding processes have led to better prices, increased state revenue, and diversification of buyers. Looking ahead, Gécamines aims to secure sales rights covering 500,000 tons of copper and 40,000 tons of cobalt. To facilitate this, the company plans to create a trading subsidiary, Gécamines Trading, which will market a portion of production directly. The commodities trading group Mercuria has been selected as a strategic partner, providing financial, logistical, and technical support. “The creation of Gécamines Trading represents a decisive step for the DRC,” Lukama stated. “It is an instrument of sovereignty, transparency, and resource development for the benefit of the Congolese people.”