Resource Overview
The Lobito Corridor region hosts some of the world's largest mineral endowments. The Central African Copperbelt, spanning the DRC's Katanga province and Zambia's Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, contains estimated copper resources exceeding 200 million tonnes — the world's largest concentration. Cobalt resources exceed 10 million tonnes, representing roughly half of known global reserves.
Copper Reserves
| Mine | Measured & Indicated (Mt Cu) | Inferred (Mt Cu) | Grade (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamoa-Kakula | 42.2 | 24.0 | 2.5–5.5% |
| Tenke Fungurume | 18.5 | 8.2 | 2.3% |
| Lumwana | 12.8 | 5.5 | 0.55% |
| Kansanshi | 10.2 | 4.8 | 0.7% |
| Mingomba | Not disclosed | Resource update pending | High grade (est.) |
The world-class grades at Kamoa-Kakula (among the highest of any large-scale copper mine globally) make the DRC particularly attractive for copper investment. Reserve life at major operations exceeds 25 years at current production rates.
Cobalt Reserves
The DRC holds approximately 50% of global known cobalt reserves. Kisanfu contains one of the world's highest-grade cobalt deposits, while Tenke Fungurume and Kamoto hold multi-decade cobalt reserve lives. The concentration of cobalt reserves in a single country creates significant supply chain risk — a key driver behind diversification efforts.
Other Mineral Resources
Beyond copper and cobalt, the corridor region hosts world-class resources of lithium (Manono — potentially the world's largest hard-rock lithium deposit), germanium (Kipushi), tin, gold (Kibali), diamonds (Catoca), iron ore (Cassinga), and rare earths (Longonjo).
Classification Standards
Resource and reserve estimates referenced in our data are sourced from company disclosures using internationally recognised reporting standards: the JORC Code (Joint Ore Reserves Committee, Australia), NI 43-101 (Canadian), or CIM standards. Where artisanal deposits lack formal classification, we note this accordingly.
Where this fits
This file is part of the corridor data layer used to cross-check routes, production, investment flows, maps, and tracker pages.
Source Pack
This page is maintained against primary sources, institutional disclosures, and recognized standards rather than anonymous aggregation. The links below are the baseline references used for periodic verification of facts, terminology, risk framing, and corridor relevance.
- World Bank Data
- EITI country data
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
- World Bank - Angola
- World Bank - DRC
- World Bank - Zambia
- EITI - DRC
- EITI - Zambia
Editorial use: figures and operational claims are treated as directional until supported by primary disclosure, public filings, official datasets, or a documented field record. Where source material conflicts, this site prioritizes official data, audited reporting, and independently verifiable standards.
Editorial Note
This data page is designed as a concise research gateway, not as a closed encyclopedia article. Its editorial job is to define the subject, explain why it matters to the Lobito Corridor, and route readers toward deeper profiles, datasets, and primary sources. Updates are made when new public data, official disclosures, regulatory changes, or field monitoring materially alter the corridor assessment.
For institutional users, the page should be read as an index layer: it helps locate the relevant company, mine, community, regulation, commodity, or infrastructure file before moving into article-length analysis. Claims that affect investment, human-rights, ESG, or public-policy interpretation should be checked against the linked source pack and the underlying corridor database before being reused externally.