Key facts
- Democratic Republic of Congo is centralizing geological data to control mining exploration.
- The initiative aims to build a comprehensive national geological databank.
- A $180 million contract with Spain's Xcalibur is part of the mapping program.
- The databank is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
- Congo will control access to the data, charging for some information.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to tighten its control over geological data, a move that could significantly influence future mining exploration and discoveries within the resource-rich nation. This initiative involves accelerating geological mapping, airborne surveys, and the digitization of historical archives to create a comprehensive national geological databank.
Officials state the plan aims to reduce exploration risks by consolidating critical mineral data. A key component is a $180 million contract with Spain's Xcalibur, a global leader in geodata mapping, which began in January. The National Geological Survey of Congo (SGNC) expects the national databank to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
Unlike other major mining jurisdictions, Congo intends to retain state control over access to the databank, implementing a tiered system where basic geological information may be free, but other data will require payment. Access requests will be evaluated based on investor needs and the protection of Congo's "strategic interests," according to Raoul Wazenga Vitima, director general of the SGNC.
Despite hosting substantial deposits of copper, cobalt, lithium, tantalum, and gold, Congo remains one of the least-explored major mining jurisdictions, with systematic exploration covering an estimated 20% of its territory. The Xcalibur project alone is surveying over 700,000 square kilometers using advanced geophysics and analytics to identify new exploration targets. While exploration spending has increased, activity remains concentrated in the copper-cobalt belt, leaving vast areas poorly mapped.
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