DRC MINING EXPORT PROCEDURE
Step-by-step guide to exporting mineral product from DRC: which authority signs what, the documents you must hold, royalty payable, and where deals get stuck at the border.
Authority and royalty
Regulator: Ministère des Mines, Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA), ARSP (Cobalt monitoring). Royalty: Copper 3.5 %, cobalt 10 % (strategic mineral), gold 3.5 %, lithium 10 %.
Border and logistics
Common exit routes: Lubumbashi → Kasumbalesa → Dar es Salaam / Beira / Durban; Kinshasa N'Djili airport for precious.
Documents required
Hold every one of these before booking the truck — missing any single document means the shipment sits at the border.
- Permis d'Exploitation (PE)
- Bordereau d'exportation (Ministry of Mines)
- Quitus fiscal (DGI)
- DGDA SAD declaration
- CEEC validation for 3T minerals (tin/tantalum/tungsten) + gold
- ARSP authorisation for cobalt
- Independent assay (CTCPM)
- Bill of Lading / CMR
Assay and valuation
Always use an internationally recognised assayer (SGS, Bureau Veritas, ALS). The buyer's in-house assay is for reference only — final settlement uses umpire assay clauses in the contract.
Common mistakes
Mistakes we see repeatedly:
- No ARSP authorisation for cobalt hydroxide → cargo blocked at Kasumbalesa
- Mislabelling cobalt as copper concentrate to dodge 10 % royalty (criminal)
- Missing CEEC certificate for 3T → cargo rejected EU/US under Dodd-Frank/EU Regulation 2017/821
Frequently asked questions
How long does export clearance take?
In DRC, typically 5–15 working days from application to signed export permit, plus 1–3 days customs at the border. Build a 3-week buffer into shipment planning.
Can I export without a refinery?
Most countries allow concentrate and DSO export. Some (Zimbabwe lithium, Indonesia nickel) now restrict raw ore to force domestic beneficiation. Check the latest rule before signing an offtake.
What if my assay differs from the buyer's?
Use the contract's umpire assay clause — a third independent lab whose result is binding. SGS and Bureau Veritas are the most-cited umpires in African mineral contracts.