Critical Minerals: DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum Postponed to 2027

Originally scheduled for October 7–8, 2026, in Kinshasa, the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum will now take place in 2027. The organizers decided to postpone the event in order to better align it with the Congolese government’s evolving industrialization strategy. In the meantime, a series of webinars will ensure that discussions among key stakeholders in the sector continue.

A Strategic Postponement

According to VUKA Group, the organizer of the Forum, the decision follows consultations with institutional partners, industry leaders, and members of the advisory board.

The objective is to hold an event that is fully aligned with the ongoing developments of the Industrialization Master Plan (IMP), which places the local processing of critical minerals at the heart of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s economic strategy.

According to the organizers, the government is accelerating the implementation of new frameworks designed to support Special Economic Zones (SEZs), industrial corridors, and investments across mining value chains.

Maintaining Momentum

While awaiting the 2027 edition, the Forum will continue through a series of webinars dedicated to the mining sector’s most important topics, including:

• Critical mineral beneficiation
• Industrialization
• Investment opportunities
• Energy
• Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards
• The Lobito Corridor

Government officials, mining companies, investors, and industry experts will share their perspectives to maintain dialogue on the country’s industrial transformation.

All event registrations, sponsorship agreements, and expressions of interest will automatically be transferred to the 2027 edition.

A Major Opportunity for the DRC

Beyond the revised schedule, the postponement reflects a broader ambition: supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s transition toward a value-creating economy.

With its vast reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, and other strategic minerals, the country seeks to strengthen local mineral processing in order to build a competitive industrial base capable of generating employment, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

The DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum therefore aims to remain a leading platform bringing together governments, investors, and industry players around a shared vision: transforming the country’s critical mineral wealth into a true engine of Congolese industrialization.

Héritier Maila

Source: VUKA Group Press Release

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