Congolese state miner Gécamines SA said it is close to finalising a commercial partnership with Kipushi Corp. (KICO) that would give it access to nearly 50% of KICO’s zinc concentrate production, positioning Gécamines as the leading zinc exporter in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gécamines said the deal would make it KICO’s main customer and anchor a broader strategy to process zinc concentrates and other strategic minerals such as germanium and gallium, according to a company statement. KICO’s estimated output is between 240,000 and 290,000 tonnes of zinc metal contained in concentrates, the statement said.
“This ambitious off-take agreement… is only the first step in a broader strategy with KICO,” Gécamines chairman Guy-Robert Lukama said, adding that the aim is to become the sole buyer of KICO’s production.
The announcement follows Gécamines’ contractual rights to purchase KICO’s output, in place since 2023. The company said its ability to exercise those rights was enabled by a December 2025 partnership with commodities trader Mercuria Energy Trading, which provides financial, logistical and commercial capacity.
Gécamines also said the deal would strengthen its commercial strategy and further position the DRC among world leaders in the global trade of strategic minerals. “This operation… is further proof of Gécamines’ commitment to regaining control over the raw materials produced in the DRC,” said Gécamines general manager Placide Nkala.
For investors, the announcement signals a shift in the DRC’s mineral export mix, with zinc and other strategic metals gaining prominence alongside the country’s dominant copper and cobalt sectors. The key question is whether the deal will be executed smoothly and whether the DRC can build processing capacity to retain more value domestically.
Original story@https://www.globalminingreview.com/
