The Democratic Republic of Congo has inaugurated its first public gold refinery in Kalemie, producing high-purity gold bars. The refinery, a subsidiary of DRC Gold Trading SA, in partnership with Lunga Mining SARL, will supply the Banque centrale du Congo (BCC) with 99.9% pure gold bars. This initiative aims to consolidate the country's national gold reserves and potentially diversify the central bank's assets.
The refinery's primary focus is on processing gold from artisanal mining. The refining process involves removing impurities from raw gold, resulting in a 99.9% pure product. One kilogram of gold bar theoretically contains 999 grams of pure gold. Previously, this process was often conducted abroad, resulting in the loss of value-added benefits for the country.
The refinery aims to produce 50 kilograms of gold per month initially, with a planned capacity of 500-600 kilograms per month. However, no data has been released on the actual quantities produced so far. The director-general of the refinery, Joseph Maombi Kazibaziba, announced plans to establish additional refineries in the Grand Kivu, Grande Orientale, and Grand Kasaï regions, as well as a large national refinery in Kinshasa.
The goal of these new refineries is to bring gold processing closer to mining areas, improve transaction tracking, and reduce the amount of gold circulating in informal circuits. On paper, this approach seems promising, as it could help retain value within the country, create qualified jobs, transfer skills, and structure the artisanal mining sector.
Analysts in the sector believe that the success of this initiative depends on three key factors: the regularity of gold supply, transparency in the volumes processed, and the state's ability to secure commercial circuits. If the Kalemie refinery meets these conditions, it could serve as a model for more effective and sustainable valorization of Congolese gold.
The refinery was officially inaugurated on March 11, 2026. As the first of its kind in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it marks a significant step towards developing the country's gold sector. The central bank's decision to purchase gold bars from the refinery will help increase the country's gold reserves.
The development of the gold sector is crucial for the Democratic Republic of Congo, as it could contribute to the country's economic growth and provide new opportunities for artisanal miners. The government's efforts to formalize the artisanal mining sector and improve gold processing could have a positive impact on the local economy.
Key points
- The refinery's production of 99.9% pure gold bars marks a significant milestone in the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo's gold sector.
- The success of the refinery depends on the regularity of gold supply, transparency in the volumes processed, and the state's ability to secure commercial circuits.
- The government plans to establish additional refineries in various regions to bring gold processing closer to mining areas and improve transaction tracking.
