KEY POINTS
- Congo plans to keep control of a national geological databank, offering basic data free but charging for sensitive datasets, unlike open jurisdictions such as Australia.
- A $180 million Xcalibur mapping contract is surveying over 700,000 square kilometres, with the databank due to be fully operational by end-2026 in a country only 20 percent explored.
- The move follows Congo’s cobalt export curbs that lifted prices to about $26 a pound, and analysts say data control could prove an even bigger lever.
Democratic Republic of Congo plans to tighten state control over the geological data that guides billions of dollars in mining exploration, a move that could extend Kinshasa’s influence over future mineral discoveries.
The country is accelerating geological mapping, airborne surveys and the digitisation of archives to build a national databank on its critical minerals and cut exploration risk. Moreover, an official and seven industry sources said the plan will deepen Kinshasa’s grip on the world’s biggest cobalt producer and second-largest copper supplier.
Building a national databank
According to National Geological Survey director general Raoul Wazenga Vitima, a nationwide mapping programme gained momentum after a 180 million dollar contract with Spain’s Xcalibur began in January. Specifically, that project is surveying more than 700,000 square kilometres to unlock vast unexplored areas, since systematic exploration covers barely 20 percent of the country. Furthermore, the databank should be fully operational by the end of 2026.
However, Congo will diverge sharply from open jurisdictions like Australia. Unlike them, it plans to keep access in state hands and charge for some datasets. Specifically, Vitima said basic information will be free while sensitive data carries fees, with requests weighed against both investor needs and Congo’s strategic interests.
A strategic policy tool
Consequently, analysts see the data as leverage. According to University of Western Australia expert Mark Jessell, control of geological data is increasingly a strategic policy tool that shapes not only what a country mines today but what it may develop tomorrow. Additionally, governance advocates argue transparent, rules-based access could attract more investors and strengthen Congo’s negotiating hand.
The push follows Congo’s proven market power. Specifically, a 2025 cobalt export ban, later replaced by quotas, swung the market into deficit and lifted prices to about 26 dollars a pound. Therefore, some analysts say control of geological intelligence could prove even more significant over time.
Nevertheless, the real test lies in fairness. Ultimately, governance experts said the system’s credibility hinges on whether Kinshasa releases data openly rather than letting insiders gain early access.
