Congo – Mines
– The development of the mining industry

Boosting the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) should help diversify the Congolese economy, which has remained dependent on oil revenues for too long. In particular, it could accelerate the development of the country's mineral potential. The Congolese subsoil holds several billion tons of iron ore reserves, including 517 million tons in the mega-deposit of Mount Nabemba alone, as well as significant copper deposits. Exploiting these deposits requires substantial investments, which are now made possible by the new PPP law of December 30, 2022.

The Congolese Mining Code, finalized in 2005, establishes an attractive regulatory framework for companies wishing to conduct mining operations in the country. The Code offers four types of mining permits: prospecting authorization; exploration permit; industrial mining authorization; and mining permit. The Congolese government thus provides both the necessary infrastructure and an attractive regulatory framework for regional and international investors.

For example, the Sintoukola potash deposit has the potential to transform the Congo's mining sector by contributing to the diversification of the Congolese economy. The Sintoukola district is a globally important potash basin in the Republic of Congo, with very high-grade, shallow deposits located near the coast. According to a 2019 feasibility study, the project could generate annual revenues of $773 million. Backed by the Omani government and the Chilean company SQM, the British company Kore Potash Plc, focused on developing Congolese phosphates and its Kola mine, signed a contract in June 2022 with its new partner, the Chinese construction company Sepco, a subsidiary of PowerChina, for the construction of Kola.