DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo will impose annual audits on major mining companies starting 2027 to enforce local-content and subcontracting compliance, expanding oversight in the world's largest cobalt and Africa's top copper producing nation. This matters to mining investors and supply chain planners because regulatory tightening in DRC—a critical source for cobalt and copper—increases compliance costs and reshapes procurement patterns for battery and semiconductor manufacturers.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency signed an agreement with Anzana Electric Group to fund a feasibility study for hydropower expansion and electricity distribution upgrades across Lualaba province (DRC) and North-Western province (Zambia) along the strategic Lobito Corridor. Reliable power infrastructure along this Central African logistics route is critical for scaling REE mining and mineral processing operations in the region.