The Democratic Republic of Congo has established a government-controlled strategic reserve for cobalt and other critical minerals, in a move that signals the country’s determination to exert greater control over global supply chains for the materials essential to the green energy transition.
Under a decree adopted by the cabinet on April 10, management of the reserve has been transferred to ARECOMS, the national markets regulator, which is now authorised to acquire, hold, and market strategic minerals on behalf of the state.
Congo’s dominance in cobalt production is unmatched by any other country. The central African nation accounts for approximately 70 percent of global cobalt supplies, making its export decisions consequential for battery manufacturers worldwide. The metal is a critical component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and grid storage systems.
A decade of supply control
The strategic reserve builds on Congo’s designation of cobalt, coltan, and germanium as strategic minerals under a 2018 decree. The new reserve gives Kinshasa a formal mechanism to hold back export quotas and manage market availability.
Under the current quota framework, Congo has reserved 10 percent of national cobalt export volumes for strategic use by the state. For 2026, that amounts to 9,600 metric tons. Companies that fail to ship their allocated export quotas within set deadlines will see those quotas transferred to the government reserve.
In the first quarter of 2026, Congo shipped approximately 48,800 metric tons of cobalt, sharply down from roughly 123,000 tons in the same period the previous year.
International implications
The strategic reserve has drawn attention from battery manufacturers, electric vehicle producers, and governments concerned about the security of critical mineral supply chains. Patrick Luabeya, head of ARECOMS, said the reserve would allow the Congolese state to intervene in a targeted manner to maintain the balance of the international market and contribute to strengthening its economic sovereignty.
Major producers operating in Congo include China’s CMOC and Swiss-based Glencore, alongside Eurasian Resources Group, Huayou, and Chinese-controlled Sicomines. These companies will now have to navigate a more active state presence in the marketing of their exports.
As global demand for cobalt continues to grow, driven by the expansion of electric vehicle production and renewable energy infrastructure, Congo’s new strategic reserve is likely to become an increasingly significant factor in international mineral markets.