Di Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) don tok say dem go comot di ban wey dem put for cobalt export from October 16, and dem go dey manage di global supply by put annual export quota, na wetin di kontri strategic minerals regulator yarn on Sunday.
Miners go fit export up to 18,125 tonnes of cobalt for di remaining part of 2025, and di annual limit go be 96,600 tonnes for 2026 and 2027, na wetin di Authority for di Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets tok.
DR Congo, wey produce about 70% of di world cobalt last year, suspend di export for February after di price fall reach di lowest level wey dem never see for nine years. Dem extend di ban for June, wey make big companies like Glencore and China CMOC Group declare force majeure.
Di artisanal mining sector for DR Congo dey contribute plenty for di cobalt production, but e dey make traceability and compliance wahala for global buyers.
Quota go dey share based on di export wey dem don do before.
Di decision to use quota system dey happen as di fight for eastern DR Congo dey increase, and di government dey talk say illegal mining dey help M23 rebels dey cause kasala.
Di new system, wey Glencore support but CMOC no gree, dey try reduce di stock wey dey ground and make di price better. Dem go share di quota based on di export wey di companies don do before for di important material wey dem dey use for electric battery.
Di regulator tok say 10% of di cobalt wey dem go dey produce for future go dey keep for important national projects, and dem fit change di quota if market condition or local refining improve.
Di regulator still tok say dem fit buy back any cobalt wey pass di quarterly quota wey dem allow each company, na wetin di statement wey di chairperson sign yarn.
