Kamoto Copper Co. and Mutanda Mining receive The Copper Mark
Glencore’s assets in the DRC, Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), a partnership with Gécamines and the DRC state, and Mutanda Mining (MUMI), in which the DRC State also holds a 5% stake, have both received The Copper Mark, following a rigorous, voluntary assurance process initiated in 2024 for responsible copper production. Both assets are located in the Lualaba province and produce copper and cobalt, critical metals for the energy transition.
Achieving The Copper Mark required both operations to undergo comprehensive self and independent assessments to evaluate the sites’ alignment with 33 globally recognised criteria on responsible mining, across three broad areas: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Our industrial assets were assessed against The Copper Mark Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) version 3.0, which determines alignment to ESG criteria included in the standard and supports continuous improvement.
A key feature of the Copper Mark assurance process is its transparency. Site performance is assessed by an independent third-party assessor selected by the sites from a registry published by the Copper Mark. As part of this independent assessment, interviews were conducted with over 200 workers and stakeholders at both KCC and MUMI, without management present. Detailed outcomes of the assessment are made available publicly on The Copper Mark website.
Mark Davis, CEO for Glencore Copper Africa adds, “Participating in The Copper Mark assurance process has allowed us to gain a better understanding of any gaps in our social and environmental processes, which we are able to rapidly address. The assurance process, which includes re-evaluation of our sites after three years, aligns with our commitment to ongoing improvement, as we deliver value to all stakeholders through our investments in the DRC.”
“From a governance perspective, our stakeholders have a particular interest in how we address issues relating to business integrity, artisanal and small-scale mining, and security and human rights,” says President of Glencore DRC and KCC Chairperson, Marie-Chantal Kaninda. “Our approach was rated positively in these categories, which is important to us as part of our efforts to demonstrate our responsible mining practices to our supply chain, customers and the mining industry as a whole.”
KCC and MUMI are the first mines in Africa to be awarded The Copper Mark against the new RRA 3.0 standard which became effective in January 2024. The revised version includes more stringent requirements while adding criteria on climate change and circular economy, illustrating the operations’ commitment to responsible production and continuous improvement.
His Excellency Mr. Kizito Pakabomba, Minister of Mines of the DRC, praised the success of KCC and MUMI in these terms: “The Copper Mark represents a key milestone in the commitment to responsible and ethical mining practices. The successful adoption of this international standard by Glencore in its operations in the DRC marks a decisive step towards a sustainable transformation of the national mining sector. This major advance sends a strong signal: the DRC is capable of offering strategic metals from responsible supply chains to world markets. It thus strengthens the confidence of international investors and consumers in our ability to support the global energy transition with integrity and reliability.”
