ERG Africa

What ERG Africa does

ERG Africa is the African operating subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group S.à r.l. (Luxembourg), consolidating the parent group's assets on the African continent and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with operational offices in Lubumbashi (DRC) and Ebene (Mauritius). The company is a vertically integrated copper and cobalt producer operating five core assets — Boss Mining, Chambishi Metals, Comide, Frontier Mine, and the flagship Metalkol RTR (Roan Tailings Reclamation) facility in Kolwezi, DRC — supplemented by logistics operations (SABOT) across DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Its core technology centers on hydrometallurgical processing for copper and cobalt extraction, hydraulic mining and dredging for tailings reclamation, and IBM Blockchain Platform-based traceability deployed through the Re|Source initiative alongside Tesla, Umicore, Glencore, and China Molybdenum.

The company's revenue model is a direct enterprise sales operation targeting electric vehicle manufacturers and battery producers through long-term (10-year) supply contracts, with more than 70% of cobalt output flowing to the battery sector and approximately 90% of revenue derived from exports. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company supplements its primary mining operations with a tailings reprocessing service that generates additional revenue from previously abandoned material. ERG Africa employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people and serves enterprise customers primarily in the EV, battery manufacturing, automotive, and industrial metals end-markets, positioning itself as a critical-minerals supplier to the global energy transition.

Its customer segmentation is vertical, focused on EV manufacturers and battery producers, with secondary engagement through international organizations such as the Global Battery Alliance (a WEF initiative). The company supports its go-to-market through industry-event participation (Mining Indaba, DRC Mining Week, Joburg Indaba, World Economic Forum) and PR/earned media channels. Differentiated capabilities include the world's second-largest standalone cobalt production capacity (21,000 t/y at Metalkol RTR), the only operation reprocessing historic mine tailings at scale, and the Clean Cobalt Framework launched in December 2018 to institutionalize responsible sourcing and ESG compliance.

Name

ERG Africa

Legal name

Eurasian Resources Group S.à r.l.

Website

https://ergafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ERG Africa is a subsidiary of Eurasian Resources Group producing copper and cobalt across five mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, with a tailings-reprocessing flagship (Metalkol RTR) supplying electric vehicle manufacturers and battery producers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mining & Metals (Cobalt and Copper)

NAICS

Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)

SIC

Miscellaneous Metal Ores (1090), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Exploration & Resource Development (IMAKADAA), Copper Tailings, Waste & Water Management (IMAKADAL), Copper By-Products Recovery (Molybdenum, Gold/Silver, Sulfuric Acid) (IMAKADAH)

Keywords

• Cobalt mining
• Copper mining
• Battery metals supply
• Tailings reprocessing
• Mining logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cobalt and Copper Mining: ERG Africa generates revenue through mining and processing of cobalt and copper ores. Metalkol RTR produces 21,000 t/y of cobalt and approximately 100,000 t/y of copper. Frontier Mine produced over 100,000 tonnes of copper in 2021.
2. Tailings Reprocessing Services: Metalkol RTR reprocesses historic mine tailings from other miners in the Kolwezi region, extending facility life and generating additional revenue streams from previously abandoned materials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ERG Africa mines, processes, and sells cobalt and copper through five operating assets (Boss Mining, Chambishi Metals, Comide, Frontier Mine, and Metalkol RTR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia, with Metalkol RTR reprocessing historic tailings at 21,000 t/y cobalt and ~100,000 t/y copper capacity. The company also offers logistics and transport services through SABOT across multiple African countries and runs an online supplier registration portal for procurement activities.

Product overview

ERG Africa is a diversified natural resources producer combining all Eurasian Resources Group assets on the African continent. The company operates primarily as a cobalt and copper mining enterprise with a portfolio of five main mining operations: Boss Mining, Chambishi Metals, Comide, Frontier Mine, and Metalkol RTR. Metalkol RTR is a flagship reprocessing facility that converts historic mining tailings into cobalt and copper, while the other operations extract copper and cobalt directly. The company also operates logistics and transport services through SABOT across multiple African countries. ERG Africa's operations span the Democratic Republic of Congo (Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces), Zambia, South Africa, Mali, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metalkol RTR (Roan Tailings Reclamation) A major reprocessing plant for historic copper and cobalt tailings from previous mining operations in the Kolwezi area of DRC. At full capacity, produces 21,000 t/y of cobalt (sufficient for approximately 3 million EV batteries per year) and approximately 100,000 t/y of copper. Operates as the world's second largest standalone cobalt producer.
• Frontier Mine A copper mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that had a record year in 2021, producing more than 100,000 tonnes of copper. Located near Sakania in Haut-Katanga Province.
• Boss Mining A historical copper and cobalt producer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, restarted in November 2022 after being placed on care and maintenance in 2019. Located in Kakanda, Lualaba Province.
• Chambishi Metals Copper and cobalt operations in Zambia, part of ERG Africa's Cobalt and Copper Division. Recognised as Best Performer in Occupational Health and Safety for 2017 by the Zambia Chamber of Mines.
• Comide Mining concession in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the Lenge and Kisanfu communities, part of ERG Africa's Cobalt and Copper Division with community development programs including agriculture.
• Development Assets Growth and expansion projects across Africa, including exploration and development of new mining opportunities.
• SABOT Logistics Logistics and transport services including SABOT operations in DRC, Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe supporting ERG Africa's supply chain.

Quantifiable outcome

• 21,000 t/y cobalt production capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enterprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026MoU signed during Mining Indaba in Cape Town to formalize artisanal and small-scale cobalt mining in Lualaba Province, DRC. EGC receives mining rights over exploitation area owned by ERG Africa. Pilot project aims to improve working conditions, reduce human rights and informal mining risks, strengthen social cohesion, and ensure cobalt supply chain traceability.
• Global Battery Alliance (GBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERG is a founding member of the Global Battery Alliance, a World Economic Forum Initiative that convenes over 100 international organisations to create a sustainable value chain for lithium-ion batteries powering the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• Re|SourcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlockchain solution to trace responsibly produced cobalt from mine to electric vehicle. Partners include China Molybdenum, Glencore, Umicore, and Tesla. ERG CEO Benedikt Sobotka presented this initiative at Mining Indaba 2022.
• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationIBM Blockchain Platform supports ERG's Clean Cobalt Framework at Metalkol RTR, enabling end-to-end traceability of cobalt from extraction through to EV battery manufacturers.
• University of LubumbashiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with agronomists from University of Lubumbashi to explore experimental planting of trees and their growing potential at Kingamyambo tailings dam for environmental rehabilitation.
• Global Smart Infrastructure Fund (GSIF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GSIF promoting fair and sustainable development in mining communities in the Kolwezi region.
• National Institute of Professional Preparation (INPP)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDRC government body that supervises and certifies vocational training. Monitors Metalkol RTR Engineering Apprenticeship and Training Programme and grants trade qualifications to apprentices.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Glencore: Glencore is one of the world's largest producers of cobalt and copper, with significant DRC operations (Mutanda, KCC) and is a direct competitor to ERG Africa in cobalt supply to battery manufacturers. Glencore is also a co-partner in the Re|Source blockchain initiative, confirming direct competitive and collaborative overlap.
• China Molybdenum (CMOC): CMOC operates the Tenke Fungurume mine in DRC, one of the world's largest copper-cobalt operations, making it a direct peer in DRC cobalt and copper production. CMOC is also a partner in the Re|Source initiative alongside ERG Africa.
• Freeport-McMoRan: Freeport-McMoRan is a major global copper miner with significant African exposure (including Tenke minority historically) and is a direct competitor in copper concentrate and cathode markets served by ERG Africa's Frontier and Metalkol operations.
• Sherritt International: Sherritt International is a nickel and cobalt producer operating the Moa joint venture in Cuba, comparable to ERG Africa as a mid-tier cobalt producer focused on supplying the battery materials supply chain.
• Hudbay Minerals: Hudbay Minerals is a copper-focused miner with operations in DRC (Moto Goldfields) and South America, competing with ERG Africa in copper concentrate markets and serving similar mid-tier EV and industrial customers.
• First Quantum Minerals: First Quantum operates Sentinel and Kansanshi copper mines in Zambia, directly comparable to ERG Africa's Chambishi Metals and Frontier Mine operations in terms of Copperbelt geography, scale, and copper cathode production.

Broad incumbents

• Umicore: Umicore is a major cobalt refiner and battery materials producer, serving as both a customer and a partner of ERG Africa in the Re|Source initiative. Comparable in cobalt downstream processing and EV battery material supply chains.
• Zijin Mining: Zijin Mining is a large Chinese state-linked diversified miner with copper and cobalt operations including the Kamoa-Kakula complex in DRC, directly competing with ERG Africa in DRC copper production and offtake into Chinese smelter and battery supply chains.
• Vale Base Metals: Vale produces nickel and copper and is exploring cobalt as part of its base metals portfolio, with broad incumbent scale and global customer relationships that overlap with ERG Africa's mining customer base in EV and battery materials.

Others

• Eurasian Resources Group: Eurasian Resources Group is the parent conglomerate of ERG Africa with diversified mining operations spanning Africa, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and the Middle East, providing the corporate and capital structure context for ERG Africa's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ERG Africa