DR Congo Raises Tax on Lithium and Other Strategic Minerals
The Democratic Republic of Congo has added lithium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, and uranium to a list of strategic minerals subject to a 10% royalty tax, according to an announcement from the country's mines ministry. The move is part of a broader effort by African nations to increase revenues from their natural resources and capture more value from raw materials. The policy reflects growing pressure from resource-rich countries to renegotiate terms with mining companies and follows similar actions by Ghana, Mali, and Zimbabwe.
The Democratic Republic of Congo announced that lithium and four other minerals—niobium, tantalum, tungsten, and uranium—have been added to a higher tax bracket with a 10% royalty rate. The announcement was made via the mines ministry's social media account. DR Congo's southeastern region contains one of the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposits, making the country a significant player in the global battery supply chain. This action is part of a broader trend across Africa, where resource-rich nations are seeking to increase government revenues and capture greater value from their natural resources. Similar moves include DR Congo's cobalt export restrictions imposed last year, Ghana's sliding-scale gold royalty rates introduced in March, Mali's revised mining code, and Zimbabwe's suspension of lithium exports earlier in 2024.
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- SemaforCenter
DRC adds lithium to higher-tax strategic minerals list
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