EU to Support DRC Mining Projects

The EU has announced new financial support for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mining sector, with two key initiatives aimed at promoting responsible mineral value chains and strengthening geological data systems.

The first initiative is the EU’s financial backing of the Cobalt for Development project. Implemented by German development agency GIZ on the European side and the Congolese state-run Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, the project will begin with pilot sites and aims to improve social and environmental conditions in the artisanal cobalt sector.

The second initiative is the planned launch of Panafgeo+, a new EU project developed in partnership with France’s Bureau of Geological and Mining Research and the Royal Museum for Central Africa. The project will support DRC’s Ministry of Mines and the National Geological Service in managing and digitizing the country’s geological data.

The EU’s engagement is part of its broader strategy to promote sustainable and transparent mineral supply chains through its partnership with the DRC on critical and strategic raw materials.