A new investigation has raised questions about the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) management of its uranium resources, alleging that the mineral has been quietly exported to China for almost two decades despite a ban on commercial uranium sales.
According to an investigation by Lighthouse Reports, uranium has reportedly been extracted as a by-product of cobalt mining in the mineral-rich Katanga region and transported out of the country alongside cobalt ore.
The allegations are significant because the DRC has a long and controversial history with uranium. The country’s Shinkolobwe mine was once one of the world’s most important sources of high-grade uranium and played a major role in the production of uranium used in the development of early American nuclear weapons.
The mine was officially closed in 2004, but investigators say mining activities have continued in surrounding areas. The latest report suggests that uranium-bearing material may have continued to leave the country as part of broader mineral shipments, potentially bypassing restrictions on commercial uranium exports.
The investigation reportedly draws on several sources of information, including a leaked memorandum linked to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and internal documents associated with Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), one of the DRC’s major mining operations.
TFM was previously controlled by American interests but is now under the ownership of China-based CMOC Group, a major global producer of cobalt and other critical minerals.
The report alleges that uranium was transported alongside cobalt ore produced in the Katanga mining region, potentially making it difficult to distinguish or monitor the movement of the radioactive material through conventional mineral export channels.
Investigators estimate that between 2,000 and 5,000 tonnes of uranium may have left the DRC for China between 2000 and 2024. If confirmed, the scale of the alleged exports could raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s controls over uranium production and international trade.
The allegations also come at a time when global demand for critical minerals has increased significantly. The DRC is one of the world’s most important sources of cobalt, a key component in batteries used in electric vehicles, mobile devices and energy storage systems. China has established a dominant position in the global cobalt supply chain, with Chinese companies playing major roles in mining and processing operations in the DRC.
The alleged uranium exports could therefore add another layer of complexity to the strategic competition surrounding the country’s mineral resources.
The historical importance of Shinkolobwe further increases the sensitivity of the claims. Uranium from the mine was supplied to the United States during the Second World War and was used in the Manhattan Project, the programme that developed the first atomic bombs.
While the latest allegations do not establish that the uranium was used for weapons production, they raise concerns about how radioactive materials may have been handled and traded internationally.
The report is likely to attract further scrutiny from regulators, international organisations and governments interested in nuclear security and the responsible management of strategic minerals.
The DRC remains one of the world’s most resource-rich countries, but its mineral sector has long faced concerns over transparency, illegal mining and weak regulatory enforcement. The latest investigation could intensify calls for greater oversight of mineral supply chains and stronger mechanisms to track radioactive materials.
