Navigating Critical Mineral Supply Chains: The EU's Partnerships with the DRC and Zambia

This research paper analyzes the European Union's strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to diversify critical raw material (CRM) supply chains and reduce dependence on China. It examines the geopolitical tensions between Western security agendas and the industrialization goals of the producing nations, while highlighting significant governance risks and the lack of comprehensive national CRM policies in the DRC and Zambia.

• In October 2023, the European Union signed separate but identical Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to secure critical raw material (CRM) value chains. These agreements are part of a broader strategy to reduce the EU's "heavy reliance on imports, often from quasi-monopolistic third country suppliers," specifically China.
• The EU's CRM strategy is driven by the Critical Raw Materials Act (proposed March 2023), which aims to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of sixteen strategic raw materials essential for defense, space, and the green and digital transitions. While the EU aims to increase domestic capacity by 2030, it acknowledges it cannot "be self-sufficient in supplying such raw materials."
• The DRC and Zambia are critical partners due to their vast resources: the DRC produces 70% of the world's cobalt and is the second-largest copper producer, while Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer. However, both countries lack comprehensive strategic policies on CRMs, with the DRC only classifying cobalt, coltan, and germanium as strategic in 2018 for financial reasons related to royalties.
• There is a misalignment between the EU's geopolitical security agenda and the socioeconomic goals of the DRC and Zambia. While the EU seeks to reduce vulnerability to geopolitical adversaries, the DRC and Zambia prioritize industrialization and local value chain development and have not expressed a desire to distance themselves from China.
• Significant governance and stability risks hinder EU private sector investment. The DRC is noted for having a "very low level of governance" on EU maps, and both the DRC and Zambia rank poorly in the Fraser Institute's Investment Attractiveness and Policy Perception Indices. The DRC specifically faces risks from disputed election results and interethnic tensions in the Katanga mining region.
• The EU faces difficulty mobilizing its private sector because many European companies continue to partner with Chinese firms, such as BASF and Eramet pursuing lithium deals in Latin America. The author suggests that since the EU lacks state-owned mining companies to use as geopolitical tools, it should consider strengthening state-owned companies in producing countries, such as Gécamines or Sakima in the DRC and ZCCM Investments Holdings in Zambia.

APA

Byamungu, C. G. N. (2024). Navigating Critical Mineral Supply Chains: The EU's Partnerships with the DRC and Zambia. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/navigating-critical-mineral-supply-chains-the-eus-partnerships-with-the-drc-and-zambia

Chicago

Byamungu, Christian Géraud Neema. Navigating Critical Mineral Supply Chains: The EU's Partnerships with the DRC and Zambia. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/navigating-critical-mineral-supply-chains-the-eus-partnerships-with-the-drc-and-zambia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Byamungu |first1=Christian Géraud Neema |title=Navigating Critical Mineral Supply Chains: The EU's Partnerships with the DRC and Zambia |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=6 March 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/navigating-critical-mineral-supply-chains-the-eus-partnerships-with-the-drc-and-zambia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{byamungu2024navigating, author = {Byamungu, Christian Géraud Neema}, title = {{Navigating Critical Mineral Supply Chains: The EU's Partnerships with the DRC and Zambia}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://afripoli.org/navigating-critical-mineral-supply-chains-the-eus-partnerships-with-the-drc-and-zambia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }