African governments strengthen control over mineral data and mining rights

African governments are launching new initiatives to control the geological data, mining licenses, and trade rules governing their mineral wealth.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began a three-year geological mapping program in October to survey nearly 700,000 square kilometres of the country. Working with Spain's Xcalibur Smart Mapping, the DRC plans to collect over three million line-kilometres of geophysical data to build a national geological databank by the end of 2026.

The government intends to provide basic information for free while charging for sensitive datasets based on the strategic interests of the country. Zambia is also expanding its mineral oversight by conducting a high-resolution geophysical survey of its entire territory. President Hakainde Hichilema announced a "use it or lose it" policy to prevent companies from holding mining licenses for speculation without active development.

The Zambian government aims to reach an annual copper production of three million tonnes by 2031 to support the global demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy. Regional cooperation is a key part of these strategies. Leaders in the DRC and Zambia are calling for joint ventures and harmonized standards for critical minerals to improve traceability and curb illicit trade. Additionally, Zambia committed to publishing company-level data on local content by 2027.

These efforts align with a new regional program supported by the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to improve transparency across African mineral supply chains.