Annual Report 2025

DRC, energy transition: who loses, who wins?

The year 2025 could mark a turning point for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s role in the global energy transition. As the world accelerates its transition to cleaner energy systems, Congolese minerals—particularly cobalt, copper, and lithium—hold a strategic position. Yet for decades, the DRC has supplied a large portion of these essential resources without always reaping the full benefits of the value created.

This raises an important question: Who really stands to gain from the global energy transition? A sustainable transition cannot be limited to securing supply chains; it must also enable producing countries and their populations to benefit more from the wealth they help to create.

In 2025, the measures taken by the Congolese government regarding cobalt—notably the temporary ban on exports followed by the implementation of a quota system—reflect a desire to regain greater control over the country’s strategic resources. But controlling exports is only one step. The real challenge is to transform natural resources into jobs, industrialization, access to electricity, and better-quality public services.  In other words, to ensure that the country’s wealth benefits the Congolese people first and foremost.

It is with this in mind that Resource Matters continues its commitment. The organization contributes to discussions on cobalt governance, the local development of resources, and strategies enabling the DRC to derive greater benefits from its mining potential. It also acts as a bridge between public, private, national, and international stakeholders to promote partnerships aligned with Congolese priorities. The energy transition must be built in partnership with the DRC, not solely based on its resources.

This vision also guides our work in the electricity sector. While the industrialization and local processing of minerals require reliable and affordable energy, the energy transition can only succeed if it also improves access to electricity for the Congolese people.  By linking mining and energy issues, Resource Matters works to ensure that investments related to the energy transition support both economic development and more inclusive access to energy.

Finally, this vision requires transparency and accountability. Corruption, pollution, violations of workers’ rights, and opaque contracts continue to pert a portion of the profits from Congo’s natural resources. A just energy transition therefore also depends on better governance, greater accountability, and increased citizen participation.

The decisions made today will determine whether the global energy transition will become a historic opportunity for the DRC or yet another cycle of exploitation of its natural resources for the benefit of other actors. Resource Matters remains committed to ensuring that the voices, priorities, and interests of the Congolese people remain at the heart of this transformation.

Elisabeth Caesens, Executive Director
Jean Claude Mputu, Deputy Executive Director