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Gecamines is set to sell nearly half of Kamoto Copper Co.’s (KCC) copper output over the next two years, with an option to market 30% of production in subsequent years. This arrangement aligns with similar agreements Gecamines has formed with other major Congolese mines, where it maintains a minority stake.

In a significant development, Glencore PLC has agreed to sell a 40% share in its Democratic Republic of Congo copper and cobalt assets to the US-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium for approximately $9 billion, including debt. This transaction encompasses Glencore’s Mutanda Mining (Mumi) and Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) assets, which are among the leading Western-owned cobalt and copper producers in the DRC.

Additionally, the consortium has the option to sell its share of output to designated purchasers, while Glencore will continue to manage the daily operations of the mines.

This agreement underscores Washington’s increasing concern regarding supply chain risks, particularly its dependence on China for essential minerals utilized in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defense technology.

Source: https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/the-drc-bets-big-on-copper-to-boost-global-influence-with-a-landmark-mining-deal/vkqdd39

Vale SA agreed to sell most of its stake in a Canadian nickel venture to Exiro Minerals Corp., Orion Resource Partners LP and Canada Growth Fund Inc. as part of an optimization of its metals business.

The Brazilian iron ore miner’s Vale Base Metals unit signed an agreement to create a new consortium of owners for the Thompson Nickel Belt operations in Manitoba, it said in a statement Thursday. Exiro, Orion and CGF will own about 81% of the new company, with Vale retaining 19%.

The consortium partners will form a new company called Exiro Nickel Company and committed to investing as much as $200 million at Thompson. Vale Base Metals signed an offtake agreement for concentrate produced at the Thompson Mill, thereby maintaining its status as Canada’s top nickel supplier.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-19/vale-to-yield-control-of-canada-nickel-assets-in-metals-shakeup

Indonesia has been taking drastic steps to boost prices of its biggest export commodity, largely through scaling back volumes that key miners are allowed to produce. Before the latest round of cutbacks, supply from the country had risen to about two-thirds of global production, creating a surplus.

The country will issue production quotas of between 260 million and 270 million tons of nickel ore this year, Director General of Minerals and Coal Tri Winarno said. That’s slightly above a previous estimate of 250 million to 260 million tons, but well below the 379 million tons targeted in 2025.

Though higher than the earlier estimate, volumes below 270 million tons are still seen as bullish for prices, said Fan Jianyuan, an analyst with Shanghai-based consultancy Mysteel Global, adding that quota issuance should be completed by March.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/nickel-extends-gains-as-indonesia-reaffirms-sharp-mining-cuts

President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi has launched an ambitious move seeking enhanced cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

During the World Governments Summit, Gen. Ndayishimiye was received by the President of the United Arab Emirates, HE Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“They discussed issues of diplomatic and economic cooperation within a win-win partnership,” Burundi presidency said shortly after.

A highly isolated Burundi with it’s entire western frontier closed off due to frozen relations with Rwanda since 2015 and an ongoing war in DRC, Ndayishimiye badly needs to look beyond the border for new friends.

Burundi is considering securing investments into the country’s critical minerals sector.

Burundi’s critical mineral resources, particularly its rare earth elements, niobium, and tantalum, are positioned to play a significant role in the global energy transition.

These minerals are crucial for the production of renewable energy technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems.

Burundi’s rare earths and nickel deposits, still underexplored, have the potential to attract international investment and boost the country’s role in the mineral supply chain.

Read more at: https://taarifa.rw/index.php/2026/02/07/burundi-courts-uae-for-areas-of-cooperation/

Over the past decade, Indonesia has become the world’s largest processor of nickel, driven in large part by Chinese investment. Industrial estates expanded rapidly in Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia, driving an export boom. Indonesia moved closer to its goal of capturing more value from its mineral resources rather than exporting raw ore.

This outcome followed deliberate policy choices. Jakarta banned the export of unprocessed nickel, expedited permit approvals and promoted downstream processing as a national priority. Chinese firms responded with capital, engineering capacity and speed. The arrangement aligned mutual interests and reshaped global nickel supply.

This scale of investment now underscores the urgent need for robust governance to protect national interests.

Failure to enforce a core reporting obligation for years reveals a critical regulatory gap. If rules are not followed, institutional oversight breaks down and Indonesia’s authority over its strategic nickel sector is weakened.

The environmental implications are immediate. Nickel processing is energy-intensive and often relies on coal. Industrial expansion can increase deforestation, water stress, and flood risk if controls weaken. Central Sulawesi has already experienced environmental pressure around industrial zones. Effective monitoring depends on accurate, routine reporting.

Indonesia’s advantage lies not only in its nickel reserves but in its ability to govern them. Natural resources create opportunity; institutions determine outcomes.

The next phase of China-Indonesia economic cooperation will test that capacity. Industrial ambition has delivered rapid gains for Indonesia. Sustaining them will depend on disciplined enforcement, clear data and consistent oversight.

Read more at: https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/no-reports-no-records-chinas-nickel-black-hole-in-indonesia/

U.S. President Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi this week, positioning the war-ravaged African country as a central pillar in his plan to expand U.S. ownership of critical minerals.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a major producer of copper and cobalt – two of the critical minerals that Mr. Trump is targeting for U.S. acquisitions.

A commercial deal to ensure U.S. access to Congo’s mineral resources was attached to the U.S.-led peace process between Congo and Rwanda this year. The agreement is the biggest mineral deal in U.S.-Africa history, Mr. Trump told a prayer-breakfast audience in Washington on Thursday.

China controls an estimated 70 to 80 per cent of copper and cobalt mining in Congo, but Mr. Trump seems determined to break into the sector in a big way.

Read more at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-us-pushes-for-bigger-slice-of-congos-mineral-resources/