The Daily Mirror News

By Daily Mirror DR Congo Staff

The Democratic Republic of the Congo officially launched its first pilot gold refinery on Wednesday in the city of Kalemie, located in Tanganyika Province, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to strengthen control over its mineral resources and boost local value creation.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, including the Minister of Planning Guylain Nyembo, the Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba, and the Minister of Portfolio Julie Shiku Nyindu, along with representatives from DRC Gold Trading S.A., provincial authorities, and other distinguished guests.

The facility, named DRC Gold Refinery S.A., was established through a strategic partnership between the state-owned company DRC Gold Trading S.A. and the mining firm Lunga Mining Company.

According to officials, the refinery is expected to produce between 500 and 600 kilograms of gold per month, handling the entire value chain from the purchase of raw gold to its refining and the production of gold ingots.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba praised Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, for his vision of transforming the country’s natural resources into a driver of economic development and national sovereignty. He also acknowledged the support of the government led by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka in advancing reforms within the mining sector.

The minister emphasized that the refinery represents a historic milestone for the country, as it allows the DRC to refine its own strategic minerals domestically for the first time. The facility is also expected to provide fair prices, transparent trading conditions, and improved opportunities for thousands of artisanal miners, trading houses, and small- and medium-scale mining operators.

Officials further stated that the refinery will enable the country to export refined gold with a purity level of 99.9%, strengthening the DRC’s position in the international gold market.

During the ceremony, Minister Watum Kabamba also issued a strong warning to individuals involved in gold smuggling and fraudulent trading practices, urging them to abandon illegal activities and join the official trading system established through DRC Gold Trading S.A.

Authorities say the commissioning of the refinery represents a key step in the new governance framework of the Congolese gold sector—one centered on transparency, traceability, local value creation, and the protection of national interests, ensuring that the country’s natural wealth benefits the Congolese people.