Congo says China's Huayou unit must pay $6 million compensation despite suspension
2026-11-09 10:59:26 [Print]
Chinese-owned miner CDM must still pay $6 million to Congolese communities affected by last year's industrial wastewater spill even though it has suspended operations, the Democratic Republic of Congo's mines ministry said on Friday.
Congo is the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, and has tightened mining regulations in recent years to boost state revenues.
Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) is a unit of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, one of the world's largest battery materials producers and a key supplier to the electric vehicle industry.
Congolese authorities suspended CDM for three months after wastewater leaked from a containment basin at its Lubumbashi operation in November 2025, contaminating nearby communities. The basin was designed for water retention but had been used to store acidic solutions.
Authorities subsequently ordered the company to pay $2 million each to the three affected communities of Kasapa, Kamatete and Kamisepe.
In a statement on Friday, the mines ministry said implementation of the compensation programme had been delayed in part by financial difficulties cited by CDM, which recently announced a suspension of its activities.
The ministry said CDM was also required to pay a $6.6 million penalty to the state treasury following the incident.
Congo is the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, and has tightened mining regulations in recent years to boost state revenues.
Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) is a unit of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, one of the world's largest battery materials producers and a key supplier to the electric vehicle industry.
Congolese authorities suspended CDM for three months after wastewater leaked from a containment basin at its Lubumbashi operation in November 2025, contaminating nearby communities. The basin was designed for water retention but had been used to store acidic solutions.
Authorities subsequently ordered the company to pay $2 million each to the three affected communities of Kasapa, Kamatete and Kamisepe.
In a statement on Friday, the mines ministry said implementation of the compensation programme had been delayed in part by financial difficulties cited by CDM, which recently announced a suspension of its activities.
The ministry said CDM was also required to pay a $6.6 million penalty to the state treasury following the incident.
Cobalt Metal 99.8%min Delivered China
Unit:RMB/kg
China battery grade cobalt sulfate producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
