The Democratic Republic of Congo’s ministerial committee has proposed measures to strengthen a temporary ban on cobalt exports, focusing on collaborating with Indonesia, the world’s second-largest supplier of the critical battery metal. The DRC, which produces over 75% of global cobalt, imposed the unexpected four-month suspension of shipments in late February following a sharp decline in prices caused by an oversupply of the metal used in electric-vehicle batteries.
The government is now exploring long-term strategies to enhance the value derived from cobalt extraction and processing, aiming to prevent excess stockpiles from flooding the market once the ban is lifted.
The Economic Situation Committee of Congo, led by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, presented recommendations on how to efficiently manage the suspension during a cabinet meeting held on March 14 in Kinshasa. These recommendations include securing collaboration with Indonesia to better control cobalt supply and stabilize prices on the global market.
Although Congo remains the dominant source of cobalt, Indonesia’s contribution has steadily increased, reaching 11% of global supply last year, according to Darton Commodities. The cobalt in both countries is extracted as a byproduct—alongside copper in Congo and nickel in Indonesia. Following the suspension, cobalt prices have rebounded from historic lows.
The committee also suggested introducing export quotas and stricter requirements for domestic processing. Details on these proposals remain scarce, but the government has been contemplating production and shipment limits for over a year.
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