The General Cobalt Company (EGC) and Mercuria Energy Trading SA signed a strategic agreement on March 25 in Shanghai to formalize and develop the mining site of Kasulo in Kolwezi, as well as the entire cobalt supply chain associated with it.
Through this memorandum of understanding, the two partners have a clear ambition: to establish in the Democratic Republic of Congo a model of reference for artisanal and small-scale mining. The goal is to transform Kasulo into an international showcase for a more transparent, sustainable, and fully traceable cobalt industry.
The project aims to involve all stakeholders in the local chain, from artisanal miners to cooperatives, including Gécamines and central and provincial authorities. The targeted framework will cover key sensitive aspects of the sector: health and safety on sites, fairness in production organization, respect for human rights, environmental management, and end-to-end traceability.
In their communication, EGC and Mercuria emphasize that this initiative will comply with major national and international frameworks, including the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains, EGC’s Responsible Sourcing Standard, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
For Mercuria, this partnership should demonstrate that better-regulated artisanal mining can meet the growing demands of the global market for critical minerals. Kostas Bintas, Head of Metals and Minerals at Mercuria, believes that Kasulo can become a global reference for responsible artisanal mining, reconciling high standards of safety, traceability, respect for human rights, and supply reliability.
For EGC, this collaboration is presented as a new step in structuring a responsible artisanal industry in the DRC. Its CEO, Eric Kalala, highlights a decisive lever: access to financing provided by a leading global player’s commitment. According to him, this support should secure production, improve the working conditions of artisanal miners sustainably, and build traceable, transparent, and value-creating supply chains for Congolese communities.
Beyond production alone, the agreement also emphasizes local anchoring. The two partners announce support for cooperatives through training and capacity-building actions, with the idea of ensuring long-term operations according to the best international practices.
As a subsidiary of Gécamines established in 2019 by decree of the Congolese state, EGC has an exclusive mandate to purchase, process, and market strategic minerals from artisanal mining in the DRC, including cobalt, coltan, and germanium. By partnering with Mercuria, the Congolese public company clearly seeks to further legitimize its ambition to structure an artisanal offer in line with international market standards.
For Mercuria, the operation is part of a broader strategy to position itself in responsible supply chains for critical minerals, at a time when Congolese cobalt remains a key link in the global energy transition.
