DRC to Invest $1.25B Eurobond Proceeds in Energy and Infrastructure

The Democratic Republic of Congo will channel the proceeds from its $1.25 billion debut Eurobond issuance, raised earlier this month, into hydropower and transport infrastructure, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba Likunde said, outlining a strategy aimed at diversifying the country’s resource-driven economy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, Fwamba Likunde said the investment marks a shift from reliance on extractive industries toward broader economic development.

“Critical minerals are strategic assets for the DRC, but resilience comes from what we build around these critical mineral resources,” he said. “We are bringing balance between mining and non-mining growth.”

The bond sale, Congo’s first-ever issuance on international capital markets, follows years of macroeconomic reforms and efforts to restore investor confidence. The government has worked closely with the International Monetary Fund, completing a key program in 2024, which helped underpin the country’s return to global finance.

Demand for the five- and ten-year bonds was four times the amount on offer, reflecting strong investor appetite despite ongoing security concerns in the country’s east.

Even after the issuance, Congo’s debt levels remain relatively low, at around 20% of GDP, according to the finance minister.

The DRC’s economy remains heavily dependent on mining, with copper and cobalt accounting for more than 90% of export revenues. However, authorities are now seeking to leverage this position to build long-term economic stability.

The Eurobond proceeds will complement rising foreign direct investment, which has increased by 60% since 2019, largely concentrated in the mining sector.

By directing funds into energy and transport, the government aims to address structural bottlenecks, particularly electricity shortages that force mining companies to rely on diesel generators.

Alongside infrastructure investment, Kinshasa is advancing fiscal reforms to strengthen public finances. These include the rollout of an electronic VAT invoicing system, expected to generate more than $200 million in additional revenue this year.

The government has also significantly reduced fuel subsidies, cutting costs from around $500 million annually to less than $70 million in 2025, while removing support for mining companies to free up resources for development.

“We want to be a regular sovereign issuer,” Fwamba Likunde said, signaling a long-term approach to engaging international markets, while adding that there is “no rush” for a second issuance despite earlier plans to raise more funds this year.

Security spending remains a key pressure point. The government allocated about 882 billion francs ($386 million) in the final quarter of last year alone to address instability in eastern Congo, where a Rwanda-backed rebellion continues to affect parts of the territory.

Still, the minister emphasized that investors are looking beyond short-term challenges.

“What is more relevant for investors is the perspective of the country for the next 10 years,” he said. “They know there are security concerns, but they also see what the government is doing to improve the situation.”