Kamoto Copper Company (KCC)

Overview

Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) is one of the DRC's oldest and most significant mining operations, jointly owned by Glencore (75%) and Gécamines (20%), with the DRC Government holding 5%. Located near Kolwezi in the Lualaba Province, KCC was established in 2008 through the merger of previous DRC mining entities and Glencore acquired its 75% stake in 2013.

KCC produced 188,700 tonnes of copper in 2025, with Glencore targeting a long-term production rate of approximately 300,000 tonnes per annum. The company recently signed a new agreement with Gécamines to extend KCC's mine life into the mid-2040s, unlocking the full potential of the operation.

In February 2026, the proposed $9 billion Orion Critical Mineral Consortium deal would see 40% of Glencore's stakes in both KCC and Mutanda sold to US-backed investors including the DFC. At KCC, this would reduce Glencore's holding to approximately 30%, roughly equal to Gécamines.

Like Mutanda, KCC was affected by the DRC's 2025 cobalt export ban. Neither operation exported cobalt in Q4 2025, with quotas carried to March 2026. KCC received The Copper Mark in 2025.

Operations

KCC operates two open-pit mines and one underground mine (the historic Kamoto underground mine), feeding copper and cobalt processing facilities that produce copper metal and cobalt hydroxide.

H2 2025 copper production saw a significant grade-related uplift of 62,300 tonnes compared to H1 2025, reflecting access to higher-grade mining areas. Glencore has outlined plans to increase efficiency and invest in infrastructure to reach the 300,000 tpa target.

Cobalt production has been strategically deprioritised relative to copper given export restrictions. Cobalt in ore processed above quota levels is either held as work-in-process inventory or stored as final product in-country.

Corridor Connection

KCC's operations near Kolwezi place it directly on the planned Lobito Corridor rail route. With Glencore targeting long-term production of approximately 300,000 tonnes of copper annually from KCC, the mine represents a major potential corridor customer. The potential Orion CMC stake acquisition — backed by the US DFC — explicitly ties KCC to the US-DRC strategic corridor partnership.

Community Impact

KCC operates in the Kolwezi area, one of the DRC's most densely populated mining regions. The operation provides substantial employment and has a long history intertwined with the region's mining communities.

KCC has been embroiled in long-running disputes with Congolese tax authorities over royalties, levies, and billions of dollars in claimed obligations. The sanctioned Dan Gertler receives a 2.5% royalty on KCC revenues, creating diplomatic and compliance complications for Western investors.

Artisanal mining in and around KCC's concession is widespread, creating security challenges and community tensions.

Environmental Profile

Combined open-pit and underground mining creates both surface disturbance and subsurface management challenges. The historic Kamoto underground mine requires ongoing geotechnical monitoring.

Processing facilities generate tailings and effluent requiring environmental management across the extensive operation.

ESG Assessment

Timeline

Related Pages

Independent ESG Assessment

Our independent ESG assessment evaluates this operation's environmental management, social impact, governance quality, and disclosure transparency. Environmental assessment covers water management, waste handling, air emissions, biodiversity impacts, and mine closure planning. Social assessment examines community relations, employment practices, local procurement, benefit-sharing, and human rights performance. Governance assessment evaluates corporate transparency, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder engagement quality.

Assessment findings are incorporated into our quarterly Corridor ESG Scorecards, providing stakeholders with comparable, independent ratings across all major corridor mining operations. Operations meeting our assessment thresholds are eligible for verified ESG ratings issued from our evidence archive — verifiable reputation signals that differentiate responsible operators from those whose ESG claims are unsubstantiated. Rating publication requires demonstrated performance, not just policy commitments.

Community Impact Monitoring

Community impact monitoring around this operation tracks the full spectrum of mining effects on surrounding populations. Employment and procurement spending quantify direct economic benefits to local communities. Environmental monitoring tracks water quality, air quality, and ecosystem health in areas affected by operations. Community consultation processes are evaluated for meaningful participation versus performative compliance. Grievance mechanisms are assessed for accessibility, responsiveness, and outcome fairness.

Our monitoring provides the independent verification that enables stakeholders — investors, regulators, civil society, and affected communities themselves — to assess whether this operation delivers the community benefits that its social licence to operate requires. Documentation is preserved on our source evidence archive, creating permanent records that support long-term accountability and prevent the revisionism that undermines community claims when corporate memory proves conveniently selective.

Labour Practices Assessment

Labour practices at this operation are assessed against both national labour law requirements and international standards including ILO conventions and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Our assessment covers wage levels and payment practices, working hours and overtime compensation, occupational health and safety conditions, freedom of association and collective bargaining, contract terms and employment security, and subcontractor labour standards. Subcontractor labour conditions receive particular attention as subcontracting relationships can create distance between the operating company and workers that enables standards erosion.

Our assessment includes worker consultation that captures perspectives not reflected in corporate compliance reporting. Workers face barriers to reporting concerns through company channels including fear of retaliation, distrust of management-controlled grievance mechanisms, and language barriers. Our independent worker consultation provides confidential channels through which labour concerns can be documented and, where appropriate, escalated through advocacy or referral to labour rights organisations. All worker consultation documentation is handled with strict confidentiality to protect worker anonymity and prevent retaliation.

Supply Chain and Market Position

This mine's position within global mineral supply chains determines the economic dynamics that shape its operational decisions and community impact. Copper and cobalt prices, processing locations, end-user industries, and supply-demand dynamics create the commercial context within which environmental and social management decisions are made. When commodity prices are high, operators may invest more in community development and environmental management; when prices fall, these investments face pressure. Our monitoring tracks the relationship between market conditions and ESG performance to assess whether responsible practices are maintained through market cycles or only during profitable periods.

The corridor's logistics infrastructure — railway capacity, port throughput, transport costs — directly affects this mine's export economics. Improved corridor logistics reduce transport costs, improving mine profitability and potentially creating space for increased community benefit-sharing. Conversely, logistics bottlenecks increase costs and reduce the economic surplus available for community investment. Our strategic analysis evaluates how corridor infrastructure development affects this mine's economics and, consequently, the resources available for community benefit and environmental management.