The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is launching a centralised agency to fast-track mining investments, according to Reuters, as it seeks to diversify its minerals partnerships and resources industry.
The agency is part of broader reforms in the DRC and aligns with the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in December 2025 between the DRC and US governments. The agreement seeks to encourage greater investment in the country and promote more transparent regulatory frameworks for the DRC’s resource industries.
The DRC’s economy is primarily driven by its mining industry, particularly through the production of cobalt and copper. As previously reported, the DRC’s Ministry of Mines notes that around 90% of the country’s resources are either untapped or underexplored, leaving significant opportunities for companies seeking these critical minerals.
In addition to its agreement with the US, the Government of the DRC has signed similar mineral agreements with China and the European Union.
The new agency will be open to investors from the US, China, and the EU, consolidating company registration, licensing, taxation, and compliance processes to reduce approval and permitting timelines that can often be lengthy.
The announcement of this agency comes as the DRC Government intensifies efforts to take control of the country’s mineral resources. The last few months have seen a number of export control measures as well as the establishment of a centralised database to map the country’s resources.
The creation of a one-stop mining investment agency underscores the DRC’s push to streamline approvals and attract a broader range of investment partners. It also forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen government oversight of the country’s mineral wealth through new agreements and regulatory reforms.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Main image: DRC Ministry of Mines
