DR Congo seeks access to colonial-era geological records to boost critical minerals exploration

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has stepped up efforts to gain access to valuable geological records held in Belgium as it seeks to accelerate the discovery of new mineral deposits and strengthen its position in the global critical minerals market.

Congolese Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba recently met Belgian and European Union officials to discuss the digitisation and transfer of geological archives currently housed at the Royal Museum for Central Africa near Brussels.

The collection contains maps, aerial photographs, field reports, rock samples and other geological data gathered during decades of exploration conducted under Belgian colonial rule between 1885 and 1960.

Mining analysts say the records could prove highly valuable in identifying previously undiscovered deposits of copper, cobalt, lithium and other strategic minerals that are increasingly in demand for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure and advanced technologies.

According to a spokesperson for the Congolese mining ministry, the government is keen to move quickly from discussions to implementation.

“There is a need to accelerate the discovery of new mineral deposits,” the spokesperson said, noting that vast portions of the country remain largely unexplored despite the DRC’s status as one of the world’s richest mineral jurisdictions.

“A very large part of DR Congo has not yet been explored,” the spokesperson added.

Following the talks, both parties agreed to establish a joint roadmap for the digitisation and restitution of the records. A dedicated task force will also be formed to oversee the process.

The Congolese government views the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening the country’s “geoscientific sovereignty” by improving national control over geological information critical to mineral exploration and investment decisions.

The move comes as Kinshasa pursues broader reforms aimed at increasing its influence over the mining sector and maximising returns from its vast mineral wealth.

The DRC remains the world’s leading producer of cobalt, supplying approximately 75 percent of global output. However, the government has increasingly sought to manage exports and stabilise prices in response to market volatility.

In February 2025, authorities suspended cobalt exports after a global oversupply triggered a sharp decline in prices, reducing government revenues and affecting mining profitability.

The export ban was later replaced by a quota system in October 2025. Under the new framework, cobalt exports have been capped at 96,600 tonnes annually for 2026 and 2027.

The measures were designed to reduce excess supply, support international prices and enhance the country’s leverage in global critical minerals markets.

While the restrictions have contributed to a recovery in cobalt prices, they have also tightened supplies for refiners, particularly in China, the world’s largest battery manufacturing hub. The tighter market has simultaneously accelerated investment in cobalt-free battery technologies as manufacturers seek alternative supply chains.

The DRC’s efforts mirror a growing trend across Africa, where governments are seeking to modernise geological databases and improve access to exploration information to attract mining investment.

In South Africa, the Council for Geoscience has partnered with BHP to unlock historical geological datasets and strengthen exploration capabilities.

Similarly, the European Union-backed PanAfGeo+ programme is supporting African geological surveys through improved mapping, digital data management and technical training.

The DRC further deepened its engagement with the initiative in March 2026 when it joined the PanAfGeo+ INVEST programme, aimed at enhancing cooperation on geological data sharing and critical minerals exploration.

Technology is also increasingly transforming mineral exploration. French mining company Eramet has partnered with Lithosquare and BRGM, France’s geological service, to deploy artificial intelligence tools for identifying new deposits of critical metals, with Africa among the initial target regions.

Industry experts say access to historical geological records, combined with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, could significantly improve exploration success rates and attract fresh investment into Africa’s rapidly growing critical minerals sector.

For the DRC, the recovery and digitisation of colonial-era geological archives could unlock new discoveries while reinforcing the country’s ambition to exercise greater control over one of the world’s most strategically important mineral endowments.