PARIS, FRANCE – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts to formalize its artisanal cobalt sector and strengthen its position in the global battery supply chain took centre stage at the Mining On Top Africa (MOTA) conference in Paris. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) Chief Executive Officer Eric Kalala outlined the company’s progress, highlighting growing production, strategic partnerships, and the country’s ambition to move beyond raw mineral exports into value-added processing.

Established in 2019, EGC was created to regulate, purchase, process, and export cobalt produced by artisanal miners. While the company faced several years of setbacks due to the shortage of designated artisanal mining zones, Kalala said EGC has now entered a new phase of sustained production and commercial operations.

EGC Moves Beyond the Pilot Stage

Kalala said EGC’s achievement of producing its first 1,000 metric tons of fully traceable artisanal cobalt in late 2025 marked the beginning of continuous production rather than the end of a pilot programme.

The company is targeting 5,000 metric tons of cobalt metal equivalent during the current year as it continues expanding operations across the country.

He also revealed that EGC became the first Congolese company to export cobalt through the Lobito Corridor, shipping approximately 3,000 metric tons during the first half of the year. According to Kalala, this represented 100% utilisation of the export quota allocated to the company by the country’s regulator, significantly outperforming the national average of around 60%.

Beyond cobalt, EGC intends to expand its activities into other strategic minerals covered under its mandate, including tin, tungsten and tantalum (3Ts), reinforcing its role as the state’s exclusive purchaser of strategic minerals produced by artisanal miners.

Expanding Partnerships with Mining Companies

Kalala credited part of EGC’s recent success to stronger collaboration with major mining companies.

Following Gécamines’ decision to allocate artisanal mining areas to EGC in 2024, the company has continued pursuing similar partnerships across the mining sector.

He confirmed that EGC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and is also engaged in discussions with Virtus, the new owner of the Mutoshi mine.

According to Kalala, these partnerships are essential to creating safe, designated mining areas for artisanal miners while preventing illegal mining activities within industrial concessions.

The company is also working closely with the Ministry of Mines to identify additional Artisanal Mining Zones (ZEAs) that can accommodate increasing numbers of miners as demand continues to grow.

Quota System Applied Fairly

Responding to suggestions that EGC may have benefited from its status as a state-owned enterprise under the DRC’s cobalt export quota system, Kalala firmly rejected the claim.

He stressed that the quota system introduced by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Markets (ARECOMS) was implemented fairly across all operators.

According to Kalala, EGC’s ability to fully utilise its allocated export quota resulted from disciplined planning, strong operational coordination, and effective project management rather than preferential treatment.

“No operator received preferential treatment under the cobalt quota system,” Kalala said, adding that EGC’s performance reflected efficient organisation rather than ownership status.

He praised government agencies responsible for administering the quota programme, noting that consistent enforcement of the regulations had strengthened confidence in the system.

Kalala added that EGC’s successful exports also demonstrated that responsibly sourced, fully traceable artisanal cobalt can become a reliable component of global critical mineral supply chains.

Improving Safety and Livelihoods for Artisanal Miners

Formalising artisanal mining remains one of EGC’s primary objectives, particularly in improving safety and creating more sustainable livelihoods for miners.

Kalala explained that before mining activities commence, EGC conducts geological studies to better understand mineral deposits and prioritises open-pit mining wherever possible instead of underground tunnelling, significantly reducing the risk of fatal mine collapses.

The company is also focused on introducing greater transparency in mineral trading while improving governance within mining cooperatives and ensuring miners receive fairer compensation.

Although he declined to quantify income improvements at this stage, Kalala said EGC is laying the foundation for long-term income growth by improving market access, strengthening governance structures, and providing safer working conditions.

As operations expand, the company plans to introduce measurable performance indicators to assess the economic benefits delivered to artisanal mining communities.

Building a Congolese Battery Industry

Looking beyond mining, Kalala reaffirmed the DRC’s ambition to move higher up the battery value chain through local refining and manufacturing.

Earlier this year, EGC signed a memorandum of understanding with EVelution Energy and Trafigura aimed at supporting future cobalt supply for the United States while developing refining expertise.

Kalala said the partnership would help the DRC gain valuable technical knowledge needed to establish domestic cobalt refining capacity, reducing reliance on overseas processing.

He noted that while China currently dominates global cobalt refining, the DRC intends to develop its own downstream industries through collaboration with international partners.

Working alongside the Congolese Battery Council, the country is pursuing plans to establish a local battery manufacturing industry that leverages its abundant reserves of cobalt, manganese, lithium, and other battery minerals.

Kalala said the government’s long-term vision extends beyond refining to include manufacturing electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, drones, and other advanced technologies.

“Our natural resources should first create value for the Congolese people,” he said, emphasizing that the country should capture a greater share of the economic value generated from its mineral wealth rather than remaining solely an exporter of raw materials.