Diversified miner Glencore’s two operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), a joint venture with Gécamines and the DRC government, and Mutanda Mining (MUMI), in which the State holds a 5% stake – have been awarded the Copper Mark.

This recognition follows a rigorous, voluntary assurance process launched in 2024 to certify responsible copper production.

KCC and MUMI are located in the Lualaba province and produce copper and cobalt.

“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,” Glencore Copper Africa CEO Mark Davis says.

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. These criteria span environment, social and governance (ESG).

Glencore’s industrial assets were assessed against the Copper Mark Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) 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 more than 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.

“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.

“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,” Glencore DRC president and KCC chairperson Marie-Chantal Kaninda says.

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 last year.

The revised version includes more stringent requirements, while adding criteria on climate change and the circular economy.

“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,” DRC Mines Minister Kizito Pakabomba said.