AMW to spotlight investment prospects

As the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) seeks partners to unlock its US$24 trillion in untapped mineral resources, African Mining Week (AMW), scheduled for 14 to 16 October in Cape Town, will feature a dedicated session highlighting opportunities across the country’s mining value chain.

The DRC Country Focus will convene regulators, project developers, service providers and international investors to explore investment and partnership opportunities, amid a national drive to unlock the nearly 90% of the country’s geological potential that remains unexplored.

Speaking at AMW 2025, Louis Watum Kabamba, DRC’s Minister of Mines, emphasised the country’s growing adoption of advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), electromagnetic surveys, geomagnetic mapping, and radiometric gravity techniques, to unlock frontier geological zones, accelerate exploration, and shorten project development timelines.

“We are deploying satellite and spatial data technologies to accelerate greenfield exploration, reduce costs, and lower uncertainty. We have 20 billion tonnes of iron ore, enough to supply steel for Africa, and we seek to unlock this potential using advanced technologies,” Kabamba said.

New prospects

In February 2026, the government signed a contract with Xcalibur Smart Mapping to conduct an extensive aerial survey covering more than 700 000 km², advancing its strategy to identify and develop new mineral prospects. Against this backdrop, the DRC Country Focus will provide a platform for officials to update investors on the progress of the national geomapping initiative and connect international exploration and drilling companies with emerging opportunities.

Alongside exploration initiatives, the DRC is leveraging technology to strengthen local content development and workforce capacity within the mining sector. Through programmes such as the ASGM Empowerment AXIS Programme and Goldconnect, the government is deploying blockchain-enabled gold tokenisation solutions and facilitating access to funding for artisanal and small-scale miners (ASGM). These initiatives form part of a broader national strategy to formalise ASGM operations, expand formal employment, and promote sustainable mining practices.

The AMW session comes as the DRC strengthens its local mineral beneficiation agenda through a series of global partnerships. In March 2026, the country launched a 600 kg-per-month pilot gold refinery in Kalemie, underscoring its commitment to leveraging public–private partnerships to develop downstream processing capacity.

Special economic zones

The DRC is also deploying special economic zones to host refineries as part of a strategy to unlock the full value of its estimated 20 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves and other critical minerals.

The country is further leveraging US investment and technical expertise to develop new infrastructure and modernise existing systems to boost local beneficiation of strategic minerals, as part of partnership agreements signed with the United States in late 2025.

These initiatives highlight the DRC’s commitment to building a competitive mining industry through international partnerships. The DRC Country Focus at AMW will build on this momentum by providing a platform for new deals, investment partnerships, and strategic collaborations that can accelerate industry growth. - Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.