Quick Facts
| Location | Lualaba Province; -10.63°S, 25.48°E |
| Ownership | CMOC Group holds 71.25% of KFM; other interests not detailed in this profile |
| Production | One production line with more than 200,000 tpa copper capacity; output reported within CMOC's DRC copper-cobalt business |
| Workforce | ~4,000 |
| Primary Minerals | Copper, Cobalt |
| Corridor Connection | ~50km from Kolwezi rail junction |
| Operator Website | www.cmoc.com |
Overview
The Kisanfu Mine (KFM) is CMOC Group's second major DRC copper-cobalt operation. Located approximately 33 kilometres from the Tenke Fungurume Mine in the Lualaba Province, Kisanfu benefits from operational synergies with its sister operation, sharing logistics infrastructure and management expertise.
CMOC acquired the Kisanfu asset in December 2020. CMOC's current DRC business disclosure states that it holds a 71.25% interest in KFM and that the operation has one production line with more than 200,000 tonnes per year of copper production capacity. Production commenced in the first half of 2023, with rapid ramp-up throughout 2024 and 2025.
CMOC reports DRC copper-cobalt business production across TFM and KFM together: 741,100 tonnes of copper and 117,500 tonnes of cobalt in 2025. Because CMOC does not split 2025 production by mine in its headline DRC business disclosure, mine-level 2025 production estimates should be treated as unofficial unless reconciled to primary filings.
Further expansion planning, power supply, and logistics routing remain important monitoring points for KFM, particularly because its output adds to the Kolwezi-area freight base that the Lobito Corridor is trying to serve.
Community Impact
Kisanfu's development has brought employment opportunities to the Lualaba Province but also raises concerns common to large-scale mining in the DRC copperbelt. The mine's proximity to Kolwezi, a city already experiencing the pressures of rapid mining expansion, means that cumulative social and environmental impacts must be assessed holistically rather than project-by-project.
CMOC's battery-material customer base creates a direct supply-chain link from DRC cobalt extraction to global electric vehicle batteries, bringing additional scrutiny to labour conditions and sourcing practices. Specific offtake volumes and counterparty entitlements should be verified against current contract disclosures before reuse.
CMOC has pledged to follow international ESG standards in developing Kisanfu, though independent verification of these commitments remains limited. The DRC's cobalt export ban implemented in February 2025, followed by a quota system from late 2025, has disrupted cobalt export logistics and created stockpiling challenges across the sector.
Environmental Profile
Kisanfu's environmental profile is shaped by the challenges inherent to large-scale copper-cobalt mining in the copperbelt: water management, tailings disposal, and the environmental legacy of decades of mining activity in the surrounding region. The mine benefits from newer processing technology compared to legacy operations but operates in an ecologically sensitive area.
The planned Nzilo II hydropower connection is significant from a carbon perspective, potentially reducing the mine's reliance on diesel generation. However, hydropower dependence also creates vulnerability to the drought conditions that have affected power supply across the region in 2024-2025.
ESG Assessment
Status: Under Assessment
This mine has not yet received a formal Lobito Corridor ESG rating. Our assessment team is compiling baseline data from public sources, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. ESG review signals, when issued, will be verified through the source library.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2020 | CMOC acquires 95% stake for USD 550 million |
| 2021 | CATL acquires minority stake; construction begins |
| 2023 | Production commences H1 2023 |
| 2024 | Rapid production ramp-up; CMOC doubles global cobalt output |
| 2025 | CMOC reports 741,100t copper and 117,500t cobalt across TFM and KFM combined; DRC cobalt export restrictions disrupt logistics |
| 2026 | KFM remains subject to DRC cobalt quota regime; mine-level output split not separately disclosed in headline CMOC DRC business data |
Related Pages
Company: CMOC Group
Community: Kolwezi
Related Mines: Tenke Fungurume (sister operation)
Deals: US-DRC Strategic Partnership
Country: DRC Profile
Index: All Mine Profiles · ESG Observatory
This profile is produced independently by Lobito Corridor and does not represent the views of CMOC Group or any government. Data sourced from public filings, government reports, and independent research. Last updated: May 21, 2026.
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.
Any comparative ESG scorecard should be treated as editorial analysis unless supported by a dated methodology, source pack, and right-of-response process. Rating language should distinguish demonstrated performance from 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.
Stakeholders should assess community-benefit claims through public commitments, implementation evidence, grievance records, regulator material, company disclosures, and credible community or civil-society reporting.
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.