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China is deepening its foothold in Africa’s resource sector as CMOC Group Ltd., one of the country’s leading mining conglomerates, announces a USD 1.08 billion expansion of its KFM copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The move underscores Beijing’s ongoing strategy to secure critical minerals that underpin the global green-energy transition and its own industrial growth.
The expansion marks the second phase of the KFM project, slated to commence in 2027, and is expected to boost annual copper output by approximately 100,000 metric tons. The mine’s first phase reached full capacity in 2023, solidifying CMOC’s presence in one of the world’s most resource-rich regions.
Headquartered in Luoyang, China, CMOC holds a 71.25% stake in the KFM mine through its Hong Kong-based subsidiary. The company stated that the investment will significantly enhance its production capabilities and further integrate it into the global copper and cobalt supply chains — both essential to electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, and modern electronics.
In addition to KFM, CMOC operates the Tenke Fungurume mine, another major DRC operation and one of the world’s top producers of copper and cobalt. The company’s broader strategy extends beyond Congo, with a global portfolio that includes the Northparkes copper-gold mine in Australia and niobium and phosphate operations in Brazil, supporting key sectors such as agriculture and advanced manufacturing.
The announcement comes amid concerns about a looming global copper shortage, following disruptions like the suspension of Freeport’s Grasberg mine in Indonesia. Analysts suggest that CMOC’s investment could help stabilize global supply and support industrial demand as economies ramp up low-carbon technologies. Meanwhile, U.S. mining firms are also eyeing opportunities in the DRC, aiming to secure access to strategic raw materials needed for clean energy and high-tech manufacturing.
China’s push in the DRC is part of a broader resurgence of engagement across Africa. In the first half of 2025, Chinese firms signed an estimated USD 30.5 billion worth of construction and infrastructure contracts across the continent — nearly five times the value recorded during the same period in 2024, according to data from Griffith University and the Green Finance & Development Center.
Recent Chinese-led initiatives include a USD 450 million steel plant in Nigeria, solar manufacturing facilities in Ethiopia, and expanded mining operations in Botswana and Sierra Leone. Beijing has also supported Uganda’s USD 1.7 billion hydropower project and pledged an additional USD 1.7 billion for renewable energy and industrial ventures in Ethiopia.
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Ultimately, CMOC’s latest expansion represents more than a mining investment — it highlights China’s strategic integration of resource partnerships and infrastructure development across Africa. Through such initiatives, Beijing is positioning itself as a central architect of the continent’s industrial and energy future, reinforcing long-term economic and geopolitical ties.
