Buenassa
Buenassa is the first privately led integrated metals trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo, building a pit-to-port platform for refined copper cathodes and battery-grade cobalt serving defense, battery, and industrial offtakers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersKinshasa
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Buenassa does
Buenassa SARL is a Democratic Republic of Congo-based, privately held company founded in 2022 by Eddy B.K. Kioni and officially established in Q1 2023, positioned as the first privately led integrated metals trading company in the DRC. The company is building an end-to-end pit-to-port platform for critical minerals — primarily copper and cobalt — targeting defense contractors, battery and energy storage manufacturers, and industrial offtakers in Tier-1 Western, Japanese, and Gulf markets. It is currently in a pre-revenue development phase, advancing a $3.5 billion industrial roadmap, and is headquartered in Kinshasa (Gombe district) with a regional office in Sandton, Johannesburg and a refinery project site in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province.
Buenassa's flagship asset is the Buenassa Refinery Project, a hydrometallurgical facility in the heart of the DRC's Copperbelt that upon ramp-up will produce 120 ktpa of LME Grade A copper cathode and 20 tpa of cobalt contained in metal and sulphate, using proven solvent extraction and electrowinning technology. The technology stack is paired with a blockchain-enabled traceability system aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, IFC Performance Standards, and the Equator Principles. Supporting operations include a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC / Big Bags) manufacturing facility in the DRC and the Lualaba Logistics Hub, which together provide packaging, strategic stockpiling, warehousing, multimodal transport, customs, and trade facilitation.
Revenue is intended to be generated through transaction-fee structures on critical minerals trading and refining (copper cathodes, cobalt metal and sulphate), professional-services fees on logistics solutions, and hardware sales of FIBC bulk bags, with quote-based per-transaction pricing for industrial customers. The go-to-market is enterprise sales-led, leveraging direct relationships with the Congolese Government (which holds 10% golden shares in Buenassa Resources S.A.), U.S. Government institutions (US DFC, Ex-Im Bank), multilateral DFIs (Afreximbank), Western commodity trading houses, and Tier-1 industrial offtakers. Strategic engineering, consulting, and capital partners include Roland Berger, Bara Consulting, MET63, Rawbank, and UBA. Phased targets are 30,000 tpa copper and 5,000 tpa cobalt in Phase I, scaling to 120,000 tpa copper and 20,000 tpa cobalt in Phase II, with the complex expected to generate approximately 5,000 direct jobs at full ramp-up. The current company has 1–10 employees, and former Prime Minister of the DRC Samy Badibanga serves as Chairman of Buenassa Resources, with an international advisory board that includes former U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Ex-Im Bank senior official Elaine Dezenski and former UK Secretary of State for Defence Sir Gavin Williamson.
Buenassa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buenassa
- Legal name
- Buenassa SARL
- Website
- https://buenassa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Buenassa is the first privately led integrated metals trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo, building a pit-to-port platform for refined copper cathodes and battery-grade cobalt serving defense, battery, and industrial offtakers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buenassa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Copper and Cobalt Refining
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180), Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)
- SIC
- Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Copper Hydrometallurgy (Leaching, SX/EW) (IMAKADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery & Critical Minerals Trading (Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite, Manganese, Rare Earths) (IMAKAJAE), Copper Anode/Cathode Production & Handling (IMAKADAG), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI)
Keywords
Where Buenassa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kinshasa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Buenassa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Critical Minerals Trading: Partnership with suppliers and strategic sources to ensure consistency in the production and flow of critical minerals (copper and cobalt) across the entire value chain. Sells domestically beneficiated minerals to international markets.
- Refining Services: Processing of copper and cobalt concentrate through hydrometallurgical refinery. Produces LME Grade A copper cathode (120 ktpa capacity) and cobalt contained in metal and sulphate (20 tpa capacity) upon ramp-up.
- Logistics and Warehousing: End-to-end logistics solutions including strategic stockpiling, packaging, warehousing, multimodal transport, bulk handling, mining support services, customs and trade facilitation.
- FIBC Manufacturing: Manufacturing of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (industrial Big Bags) for ethical sourcing, logistics and packaging of critical minerals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for industrial customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Buenassa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buenassa produces and supplies LME Grade A copper cathodes (120 ktpa capacity at ramp-up) and battery-grade cobalt metal and sulphate (20 tpa) from a hydrometallurgical refinery in Lualaba Province, DRC. The company also manufactures FIBC (industrial Big Bags) for mineral packaging and delivers end-to-end trading and logistics services across the critical minerals value chain. Its integrated offering links domestic mining feedstock, hydrometallurgical refining, blockchain-enabled traceability, and multimodal logistics to global defense, battery, and industrial customers.
Product overview
Buenassa is the first privately led integrated metals trading company in the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a unified pit-to-port platform spanning trading, refining, and logistics services. The portfolio includes three core refined mineral products: Copper Cathodes (LME Grade A, 120 ktpa), Cobalt Metal & Sulphate (20 tpa), and FIBC (Bulk Bags) for packaging. These products are produced through the Buenassa Refinery Project (a hydrometallurgical facility in Lualaba Province) and supported by FIBC Manufacturing and Logistics Services. The company provides end-to-end solutions encompassing trading with blockchain traceability, refining with solvent extraction and electrowinning, and comprehensive logistics including strategic stockpiling, warehousing, and multimodal transport.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Copper Cathodes
- Cobalt Metal and Sulphate
- FIBC (Bulk Bags)
- Critical Minerals Trading Services Integrated trading solutions for copper and cobalt across the entire value chain, featuring blockchain-enabled traceability aligned with OECD Due Diligence Guidance and IFC Performance Standards. Sells domestically beneficiated minerals to international markets.
- Refining Services
- Logistics and Warehousing Services End-to-end logistics solutions including strategic stockpiling, packaging, warehousing, multimodal transport, bulk handling, mining support services, and customs and trade facilitation. Reinforced by strategic warehousing capacity and an FIBC assembly plant.
Quantifiable outcome
- 120 ktpa copper cathode and 20 tpa cobalt production capacity upon ramp-up
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Buenassa
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Buenassa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Buenassa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.
- Government of the Democratic Republic of CongocoreThe Congolese Government was onboarded as a strategic equity partner in Buenassa Resources S.A. in Q2 2025. The state was granted 10% golden shares with formalized sovereign support for the refinery, underscoring shared commitment to domestic value creation, transparency, and industrial sovereignty.
- Roland Berger Strategy ConsultantskeyEngaged to execute a comprehensive acquisition audit and debt restructuring for upstream Chemaf assets as part of the $3.5 billion industrial roadmap.
- Bara Consulting and MET63keyEngineering consultants consortium serving as Owner's Engineer for the refinery while participating in management of upstream operations. Bara Consulting completed the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in September 2024.
- LC PackagingsupportingPartner for Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC) solutions supporting ethical sourcing, logistics, and packaging of critical minerals.
- Shankar PacksupportingPartner for industrial packaging solutions supporting ethical sourcing, logistics, and packaging of critical minerals.
- Gulf Region Industrial GroupkeyBuenassa is advancing a strategic partnership with a prominent industrial group in the Gulf region to support its industrial objectives and market diversification.
- Africa Global Logistics (AGL)supportingAdvisory board member Rodolphe Kembukuswa previously held senior roles with Bolloré Logistics and later as Country Managing Director for DRC at Africa Global Logistics, bringing expertise in regional logistics operations.
- Sumitomo Corporation of AmericassupportingSenior Advisor Douglas Geniti brings experience from senior leadership at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, providing connections to global metals trading networks.
- GécamineskeyChairman of Gécamines participated in the UNGA79 roundtable with Buenassa. The company is referenced in context of AMCO/North American Sales Agency relationship for Gécamines cobalt. Strategic alignment for feedstock sourcing from industrial operations.
- U.S. Commodity Trading HousekeyBuenassa is working with a leading U.S. commodity trading house to transparently augment and rapidly develop its internal trading capacity.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Buenassa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sumitomo Corporation: Japanese trading house (Sumitomo Corporation of the Americas) with non-ferrous metals trading and refining interests. Comparable as a Tier-1 Japanese metals offtaker counterparty — and explicitly referenced through Buenassa's Senior Advisor Douglas Geniti's prior Sumitomo leadership.
- Glencore: World's largest trader of copper and cobalt with extensive DRC operations (Mutanda, KCC). Directly comparable as the incumbent integrated trader/refiner competing for the same DRC midstream feedstock and Western offtake flow Buenassa targets.
Direct peers
- Eurasian Resources Group (ERG): Privately held diversified miner producing copper and cobalt in DRC (Metalkol RTR, Frontier). Comparable integrated midstream model targeting battery and industrial offtakers with similar responsible-sourcing positioning.
- Umicore: Global materials technology group operating cobalt refining and precursor production. Comparable as a battery-grade cobalt refiner targeting similar OEM customers; also a historical reference via Douglas Geniti's tenure at Afrimet/Sogem-Umicore.
- Ivanhoe Mines: Developer/operator of the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in DRC. Comparable as a Western-aligned DRC copper producer pursuing premium cathode markets and overlapping in offtake, ESG positioning and government-relations strategy.
- CMOC Group: Chinese-headquartered operator of the Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu copper-cobalt mines in DRC. Comparable as a large-scale DRC midstream/integrated producer competing for global cathode and cobalt offtake volume.
- Trafigura: Major commodity trader with significant DRC copper/cobalt exposure and downstream refining interests. Highly comparable given overlapping metals-trading, logistics and refining model and shared Tier-1 Western offtaker customers.
- Gécamines: DRC state-owned mining company producing copper and cobalt. Comparable as both a potential feedstock supplier (Gécamines chairman participated in Buenassa's UNGA79 roundtable) and a domestic value-addition counterparty.
- Chemaf (Shalina Resources): DRC copper and cobalt producer with Etoile and Mutoshi operations that Buenassa is targeting for $1.5B acquisition under its industrial roadmap. Direct comparable in asset base and midstream product mix.
Emerging players
- H.C. Starck Tungsten / Masan High-Tech Materials: Critical-minerals processor with downstream tungsten and battery-materials focus. Thematically comparable as a critical-minerals midstream platform pursuing Western battery supply chains, though tungsten-focused rather than copper/cobalt.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Buenassa social profiles
Digital presenceBuenassa compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Buenassa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buenassa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Buenassa subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Buenassa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buenassa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buenassa
What does Buenassa do?
Buenassa produces and supplies LME Grade A copper cathodes (120 ktpa capacity at ramp-up) and battery-grade cobalt metal and sulphate (20 tpa) from a hydrometallurgical refinery in Lualaba Province, DRC. The company also manufactures FIBC (industrial Big Bags) for mineral packaging and delivers end-to-end trading and logistics services across the critical minerals value chain. Its integrated offering links domestic mining feedstock, hydrometallurgical refining, blockchain-enabled traceability, and multimodal logistics to global defense, battery, and industrial customers.
Is Buenassa a public or private company?
Buenassa is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Buenassa founded?
Buenassa was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Buenassa based?
Buenassa is headquartered in Kinshasa.
How does Buenassa make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Critical Minerals Trading is the primary driver. The others are refining Services, logistics and Warehousing and FIBC Manufacturing.
Who are Buenassa's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sumitomo Corporation and Glencore. Direct peers are Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Umicore, Ivanhoe Mines, CMOC Group, Trafigura, Gécamines and Chemaf (Shalina Resources). H.C. Starck Tungsten / Masan High-Tech Materials is listed as an emerging player.
Does Buenassa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Buenassa.
What industry is Buenassa in?
Buenassa's product category is Copper and Cobalt Refining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKADAD, Copper Hydrometallurgy (Leaching, SX/EW), with a secondary code of IMAKAJAE, Battery & Critical Minerals Trading (Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite, Manganese, Rare Earths). Its NAICS code is 33141 and its SIC code is 3330.