The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has ordered a three-month suspension of operations at a Chinese-operated mining site in the south of the country following a toxic spill, Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba announced this week.
The company affected is Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM), a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, which extracts copper and cobalt in the DRC.
Minister Watum reportedly said that after receiving reports of the spill, he visited the site near Lubumbashi in the Haut-Katanga province, where several local neighbourhoods were affected. He accused CDM of failing to meet environmental standards, resulting in water contamination and exposing nearby communities to serious health risks.
The suspension, initially set for three months, may be extended if corrective measures are not implemented. According to Minister Watum, CDM has been ordered to:
- fully repair the environmental damage;
- ensure all workers are paid during the suspension;
- compensate affected communities; and
- strictly comply with the country’s Mining Code.
A mixed technical commission has been established to investigate the causes of the incident and determine responsibility.
This decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of mining operations in the DRC, which accounts for over 70% of global cobalt output. The government’s move signals increased regulatory assertiveness toward foreign-operated extraction companies.
The suspension could also affect the global supply of critical minerals such as cobalt and copper — essential components in batteries, electronics, and renewable-energy technologies. Earlier this year, the DRC temporarily froze cobalt exports before lifting the ban in October under a new quota system.
Residents in the affected areas reported green-coloured water, dead fish, and a metallic odour following the spill. One local described seeing contaminated wells. Environmental advocates say the incident underscores persistent concerns about tailings management, weak oversight, and the broader ecological costs of large-scale mining in the country.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how CDM will respond, how the investigation will unfold, and what financial or legal repercussions the company may face. The broader impact on copper and cobalt exports from the region is also expected to draw international attention.
