U.S. Agency Funded DRC Copper Refinery Study
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency will support a pre-feasibility study for a new refinery in Lualaba Province.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed an agreement to fund a pre-feasibility study for a copper and cobalt refinery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project, led by developer Buenassa Resources, aims to increase local mineral processing capacity.
Why it matters
This project aims to advance local copper and cobalt processing in the DRC while strengthening connections to Western critical mineral supply chains. The study will evaluate technical design, economic viability, and potential feedstock suppliers.
Phase I design capacity is set at 30,000 tonnes of copper cathode and 5,000 tonnes of contained cobalt annually. Future Phase II expansion targets an annual capacity of 120,000 tonnes of copper and 20,000 tonnes of cobalt.
The players
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
This federal agency connects U.S. companies to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership-building activities.
Buenassa Resources
This company is the developer tasked with constructing and operating the proposed copper and cobalt refinery in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The details
The pre-feasibility study will analyze the technical infrastructure required for the refinery and assess the economic viability of the site in Lualaba Province. It also focuses on identifying reliable feedstock suppliers to support long-term operations.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Buenassa Resources signed the funding agreement.
Market Landscape
This investment highlights an industry-wide effort to diversify mineral sourcing away from established monopolies. By financing early-stage studies, U.S. agencies are attempting to secure stakes in emerging processing hubs across the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The study aims to create more stable supply channels for essential minerals, which could eventually reduce volatility in the global electronics and automotive manufacturing sectors. Consumers may see indirect benefits through more reliable production of batteries for EVs and high-tech devices.
The takeaway
The investment underscores the strategic importance of early-stage feasibility studies in complex international infrastructure projects. Securing reliable feedstock remains the primary challenge for the project to reach its full production potential.
Further reading
For broader context on energy and material infrastructure, see the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Metal.
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