Chinese Mining FDI in DRC: Opportunities, Challenges, and Geopolitical Dynamics
Journal: Modern Economics & Management Forum DOI: 10.32629/memf.v6i3.4016
Abstract
As The global shift toward renewable energy technologies has elevated cobalt and copper to the status of strategic minerals, essential for the development of electric vehicles and clean energy systems, the DRC emerges as a pivotal supplier due to its vast mineral reserves. This study investigates the multifaceted economic, social, and environmental implications of Chinese investment in the mining sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a study of the complex development paradox arising from China's emergence as the predominant investor in this mineral-rich province, analyzing it through the dual perspectives of opportunities and risks. Using a mixed-methods approach that incorporates quantitative surveys of 230 participants and qualitative interviews with various stakeholders including local miners, Chinese investors, and government officials. Findings indicate that while Chinese investments have contributed approximately $2.6 billion annually to the DRC’s GDP and spurred infrastructure development. The article concludes that the China-DRC partnership provides a more equitable, development-focused framework rooted in mutual benefit and respect for national sovereignty, marking a new chapter in African development.
Keywords
foreign direct investment, sino-DRC relations, mining sector, sicomines deal
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[20]Reuters. “DRC Renegotiates $6 Billion Sicomines Deal with China.” Reuters Africa, 2024. www.reuters.com/article/drc-sicomines-renegotiation.
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