DRC mining growth exposes power, rail and processing bottlenecks
The DRC is the world's second-largest copper producer and the largest source of cobalt, with mining output growing by 10.1% in 2025 and helping real GDP expand by an estimated 5.5%. Infrastructure is becoming the main constraint, as unreliable electricity and poor roads and railways raise costs. The mining sector faces a power deficit of around 1 GW, and Chinese investment dominates mining and processing capacity.
Why it matters: This illustrates the infrastructure bottlenecks shaping competition over critical mineral supply chains.