According to the statement released by the Ministry of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo via X, the refinery was inaugurated on March 11 in the presence of Louis Watum Kabamba, the country’s Minister of Mines, Guylain Nyembo, Minister of State for Planning, and Julie Shiku, Minister of Portfolio.
During the launch, Mines Minister Kabamba said the refinery marks a turning point for the country’s mining sector, noting that the DRC is now equipping itself with the capacity to refine its own strategic minerals while offering fair pricing, transparent trading facilities, and improved benefits for thousands of artisanal miners and small-scale operators.
He further indicated that this refinery will enable the DRC to position itself as a state exporter of refined gold at 99.9% purity.
Africa’s push to capture more value from gold
The facility is a partnership between state-backed DRC Gold Trading and Lunga Mining, designed to formalize gold trading and curb widespread smuggling that has long deprived the government of revenue.
Countries including Ghana and Tanzania have recently expanded gold refining infrastructure, while Mali and Burkina Faso have explored similar initiatives as part of broader efforts to increase state control over gold production and revenues.
During the ceremony, Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines, lauded President Félix Tshisekedi for his decisive leadership and vision in transforming the DRC’s mineral resources into drivers of national development.
For the DRC, officials say the Kalemie refinery represents a key step toward improving transparency in the gold trade while ensuring the country captures more economic value from one of its most important natural resources.