The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened a new chapter in its mineral-export geography after nearly 100 tons of copper left Kisangani for Hong Kong, marking the first large-scale copper export certificate issued from Tshopo province.

The 99-ton shipment departed on Saturday, April 25, 2026. According to the report, the copper came from Okelenge, in Lubutu territory, northern Maniema, where it was mined by the Komako mining cooperative and exported by Mumba Wetu.

Provincial CÉEC director Mulaja Kabamba Francis said the mineral chain had been certified from Lubutu to Kisangani, with traceability procedures respected. The CÉEC is the DRC’s official mineral certification authority, responsible for verifying origin, legality and supply-chain traceability of mineral substances.

The operation is significant because copper exports in the DRC have historically been concentrated around Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. By routing copper through Kisangani, authorities are positioning Tshopo as a new logistical outlet for minerals from isolated parts of eastern and central Congo.

Lubutu’s geography explains the choice. The territory is more connected to Kisangani than to Kindu, Maniema’s provincial capital, because the Lubutu–Kindu road remains difficult and largely degraded. Kisangani, about 240 kilometers away, therefore serves as the practical export corridor.

The shipment also comes as the DRC remains central to global copper and cobalt supply chains. Recent market data reported by Reuters-linked coverage showed Congo’s copper exports remain closely watched by international traders and industrial buyers.

For Tshopo, the export certificate carries both administrative and economic weight. Technical teams from Haut-Katanga and Kinshasa reportedly trained local staff for 30 days before the operation, after three years of preparation.

Officials now hope the corridor can support future certified exports and bring revenue opportunities to both Maniema, where the copper was mined, and Tshopo, where the export process was completed.

Still, the long-term impact will depend on repeat shipments, road improvements,transparent certification and whether local communities benefit from the new trade route.