The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched the DRC GOLD Refinery S.A., a pilot gold refinery in Kalemie, advancing the formalization of the artisanal gold sector while strengthening domestic value addition. Refinery to Anchor National ASGM Formalization AgendaThe project forms part of a national strategy to curb illicit gold trading and is expected to contribute to the government’s target of 15 metric tons of artisanal gold purchases in 2026. Developed through a joint venture between state-owned trading company DRC Gold Trading SA and private company Lunga Mining, the refinery has a processing capacity of 500–600 kilograms of gold per month. Supporting Future Industrial Gold DevelopmentBeyond supporting artisanal miners, the pilot refinery could serve as a model for larger industrial refining projects as the country expands its gold production capacity. Canadian explorer DRC Gold Corp is also advancing exploration at the Giro Gold Project and Nizi Gold Project after acquiring the permits in early 2026.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 12, 2026 14:21 UTC