DRC Opens Its First Gold Refinery
The Democratic Republic of Congo officially launched its first gold refinery on March 11, 2026, marking a landmark moment for Africa’s most mineral-rich nation. The facility, called DRC Gold Refinery, is located in Kalemie, in Tanganyika province deep in the country’s gold-producing east.
The refinery is a state-backed initiative, with state-owned DRC Gold Trading SA partnering with private firm Lunga Mining SA. It is capable of producing up to 600 kilograms of gold per month and covers the entire value chain from purchasing ore directly from artisanal miners to producing refined ingots for international markets. The DRC will now export refined gold at a purity of 99.9%, meeting international standards and significantly boosting the credibility of Congolese gold on the global market.
For decades, the DRC exported raw gold at commodity prices while foreign refineries captured the more lucrative processing profits. This refinery changes that equation. Mines Minister Louis Watum stated that for the first time, the DRC is acquiring the capacity to refine its own strategic minerals while offering fair prices and transparent facilities to thousands of artisanal miners, trading posts, and small mines.
The economic ambitions are significant. The government is targeting exports of between 15 and 18 metric tons of artisanal gold in 2026, with gold prices currently strong at around $5,170 per ounce.
However, the initiative is not without controversy. DRC Gold Trading has faced criticism from UN experts over weak supply chain controls and concerns that its gold purchases could be benefiting armed groups — a long-standing challenge in eastern Congo’s mining sector.
If the DRC can resolve those governance concerns, this refinery could become a model for how African nations finally capture the full value of their own resources.
