The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Africa's largest producer of cobalt and one of the world's most important sources of critical minerals, is moving to significantly increase its share of revenues from the global energy transition.
The DRC government has approved the inclusion of lithium, tantalum, niobium, tungsten, uranium and rare earth elements on its list of strategic minerals, paving the way for a sharp increase in royalty payments by mining companies operating in the sector.
Under the DRC's mining code, strategic minerals attract a royalty rate of 10%, nearly three times higher than the standard 3.5% rate applied to other minerals.
The change means lithium miners could soon face substantially higher costs as Kinshasa seeks a larger share of profits from minerals that are increasingly vital to electric vehicles, batteries and advanced technologies.
The decision was approved by the country's council of ministers and announced through a video posted on the mines ministry's X account.
