KINSHASA, DRC – Chinese-owned mining companies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have dismissed allegations that their cobalt products contain excessive levels of uranium, describing the claims as unfounded while reaffirming their compliance with national regulations and international quality standards.
The response comes as the Congolese government moves to strengthen control over its mining sector through a new ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports, part of a broader strategy to encourage domestic mineral processing and increase the value retained from the country’s vast natural resources.
In a statement released on 5 August 2026, the Union of Chinese-Capital Mining Companies in the DRC (USMCC) said an extensive review of cobalt products extracted, processed and exported by its member companies found no evidence that uranium concentrations exceeded acceptable limits.
According to the association, while cobalt hydroxide may naturally contain trace amounts of uranium, the levels remain extremely low and fall well below thresholds that would make uranium commercially recoverable or alter the product’s classification.
“Following an exhaustive verification conducted by the association, no cobalt product extracted, processed or exported by Chinese mining companies operating in southeastern DRC contains excessive levels of uranium,” the organisation stated.
USMCC argued that the allegations had created unnecessary uncertainty in international markets, disrupted commercial activities and undermined confidence in Congolese cobalt exports. To reinforce transparency, the association pledged to conduct regular product sampling, publish quality-control results and ensure continued compliance with Congolese mining legislation and internationally recognised testing standards.
Major Chinese mining companies operating in the DRC include CMOC Group, Zijin Mining and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, all of which play significant roles in the country’s cobalt and copper industries.
The statement follows the DRC government’s decision to prohibit exports of copper and cobalt concentrates under regulations that took effect immediately after being signed on 29 June 2026. The new policy aims to accelerate investment in domestic refining and processing while enabling the country to capture greater value from its mineral resources.
Although the government may grant export waivers of up to one year in strategically important cases, the restrictions apply to all mining companies operating in the country, regardless of ownership.
The new framework replaces previous export regulations introduced in 2023 and forms part of Kinshasa’s long-term strategy to reduce reliance on raw mineral exports while strengthening domestic industrial capacity.
The DRC has introduced similar restrictions in 2013, 2019 and 2023, although exemptions were previously granted where local processing facilities were insufficient to handle production volumes.
As the world’s largest producer of cobalt and Africa’s leading copper producer, the DRC is seeking to strengthen its position within global critical mineral supply chains. Official figures show that the country already processes most of its copper domestically, exporting 696,725 tonnes of refined copper cathodes during the first quarter of 2026, compared with 53,926 tonnes of copper concentrate.
Analysts believe companies that continue exporting concentrates under existing exemptions could face the greatest impact from the new regulations. Among them is the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, jointly owned by Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining and the Congolese government. Other international operators, including Glencore and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), may be less affected where local processing capacity already exists.
Beyond individual mining operations, the policy could influence regional logistics and mineral processing networks connecting the DRC with neighbouring Zambia, Angola and South Africa. However, the overall impact will depend on how the Congolese government administers strategic export waivers and how quickly additional domestic processing capacity is developed.
By combining stricter export controls with greater emphasis on local value addition, the DRC is aiming to strengthen its mining industry, increase industrial investment and secure a larger share of the economic benefits generated by its globally important copper and cobalt resources.