The Democratic Republic of Congo has inaugurated its first pilot gold refinery in the city of Kalémie, marking a strategic effort to process gold locally and curb fraud in the mining sector, officials said Friday.
The industrial facility, named DRC Gold Refinery S.A., is the result of a public-private partnership between the state-owned DRC Gold Trading and private company Lunga Mining. With a capacity of 500 to 600 kilograms of gold per month, the refinery will handle multiple stages of the production process, from raw gold purchase to the creation of refined gold bars with up to 99.9 percent purity.
“The refinery is a major step forward for the country’s gold industry and will help us reclaim control over our mineral resources,” said Louis Watum, Minister of Mines. He noted that the project positions the Democratic Republic of Congo to strengthen its role in international gold markets while ensuring more value is added domestically.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several government officials, including Guylain Nyembo, Minister of State in charge of Planning, and Julie Shiku, Minister of Portfolio, along with provincial authorities and representatives of the mining sector.
Authorities said the refinery will also help formalize the gold trade, providing an official channel for artisanal miners, buying counters, and small mining companies to sell their production under more transparent conditions. By structuring the sector, the government aims to reduce smuggling and fraudulent practices that have long plagued eastern DR Congo’s gold industry.
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“This facility is more than industrial infrastructure; it represents a transformation in how we manage our natural resources,” Minister Watum added. “We are creating a system that ensures traceability, compliance, and economic benefit for the nation.”
The project is aligned with broader policies designed to maximize the economic impact of the country’s mineral wealth. By refining gold locally, the government hopes to capture a larger share of value from the sector, supporting industrial development, employment, and economic growth.
Officials also emphasized that informal actors in the gold sector are encouraged to integrate into the new system. Authorities believe that by promoting a regulated and transparent gold market, the country can build investor confidence, improve revenue collection, and attract further investment in downstream processing and related industries.
Kalémie, the capital of Tanganyika province, has become a focal point for the initiative. The new refinery is expected to serve as a pilot for potential expansion across other gold-producing regions, reinforcing the government’s aim to develop a national network of processing facilities.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa’s largest producer of cobalt and one of the continent’s top gold producers, has historically exported large volumes of unprocessed minerals. Officials say that by keeping processing and value addition within national borders, the country can improve economic returns, stimulate local industry, and enhance the livelihoods of miners and communities dependent on the sector.
“This refinery is a first, but it signals the beginning of a new era in the Congolese mining sector, where our resources generate tangible benefits for the population,” said Guylain Nyembo.
