The Copperbelt region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) offers lucrative opportunities for South African mining stakeholders and investors, Thierry Naweji, Executive Chairman of the SA-DRC Chamber of Commerce stated.
Speaking in an interview with Energy Capital & Power during the Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit, Naweji highlighted the region’s vast resources and investment potential.
“The Copperbelt includes the Great Katanga Basin, which holds the majority of the DRC’s cobalt, lithium, copper and nickel reserves,” he stated, adding that existing and upcoming projects in the region offer profitable opportunities for South African companies.
Several South African firms are already active in the DRC’s mineral supply chain. However, the country’s largely untapped resources present an opportunity for firms to not only expand their presence in the country but generate high returns as the global energy transition advances, Naweji notes.
He added that increased collaboration between South Africa, the DRC and the broader Southern African Development Countries is critical for establishing or modernizing a regional rail network. This would enable optimal trading of critical minerals.
“We can learn a great deal from South Africa, the world’s largest producer of platinum group metals, just as South Africa can benefit from the DRC’s status as the world’s largest cobalt producer and Africa’s top copper producer,” reiterated Naweji.
