Entreprise Générale du Cobalt
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) is a DRC state-owned enterprise and GECAMINES subsidiary with the exclusive monopoly to purchase, process, and commercialize all artisanal cobalt in DRC. It operates 1,500 km² of mining zones with blockchain traceability, supplying international trading houses and EV-battery processors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersKinshasa
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Entreprise Générale du Cobalt does
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) is a state-owned enterprise (société d'État) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, incorporated in 2019 by decree as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GECAMINES (Générale des Carrières et des Mines). It was granted an exclusive monopoly to purchase, process, and commercialize all cobalt produced by artisanal miners in the DRC, and operates under the country's 2018 Mining Code framework and the November 2018 decree classifying cobalt as a strategic mineral. EGC oversees approximately 1,500 km² of artisanal mining zones in the Congolese Copperbelt (Lualaba Province), where DRC produces roughly 67% of global cobalt.
EGC's core activity is vertically integrated cobalt supply: it supervises artisanal extraction in approved zones, purchases ore from local cooperatives, processes it locally into cobalt hydroxide, and commercializes both cobalt and copper cathode byproducts to international markets. Its three product lines are cobalt production oversight, exclusive purchase and commercialization, and blockchain-based traceability covering 100% of lots from extraction through final sale. The traceability platform is the company's primary technology differentiator, designed to satisfy OECD Due Diligence Guidance and international responsible-sourcing requirements from automotive and battery customers.
EGC is a B2G/B2B monopoly seller rather than a commercial enterprise in the conventional sense. It does not disclose pricing and negotiates commercial agreements directly with international trading houses and end-users. Its principal commercial partners are Trafigura (global marketing and Lobito Atlantic Railway logistics), Mercuria Energy Trading (first buyer and Kasulo joint development), and EVelution Energy (US processing to cobalt sulphate/metal targeting EV batteries). The company also partners with PACT (NGO) for due-diligence implementation and with ERG Africa to formalize artisanal mining on ERG-owned industrial concessions. Headcount is 51–100 employees across headquarters in Kolwezi and an administrative office in Kinshasa.
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Entreprise Générale du Cobalt
- Legal name
- Entreprise Générale du Cobalt SA
- Website
- https://egcobalt.cd
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) is a DRC state-owned enterprise and GECAMINES subsidiary with the exclusive monopoly to purchase, process, and commercialize all artisanal cobalt in DRC. It operates 1,500 km² of mining zones with blockchain traceability, supplying international trading houses and EV-battery processors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cobalt Mining and Trading
- NAICS
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314), Primary Metal Manufacturing (331)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cobalt Mining & Refining (IMAKAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Critical Minerals Trading, Offtake & Marketing (IMAKAFAJ), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Copper Anode/Cathode Production & Handling (IMAKADAG), ESG, Traceability & Certification Services (Responsible Sourcing) (IMAKAFAN), Battery & Critical Minerals Trading (Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite, Manganese, Rare Earths) (IMAKAJAE)
Keywords
Where Entreprise Générale du Cobalt is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kinshasa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Cobalt Monopoly Operations: EGC holds exclusive monopoly rights to purchase, process, and commercialize artisanal cobalt in DRC. The company buys cobalt from artisanal miners through local cooperatives and sells processed cobalt (cobalt hydroxide) to international markets.
- Copper Cathode Sales: As a byproduct of cobalt processing, EGC also commercializes copper cathodes extracted alongside cobalt, with shipments destined for US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia markets.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EGC operates the state-mandated monopoly for artisanal cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, purchasing cobalt from artisanal miners through local cooperatives, processing it into cobalt hydroxide, and selling it to international trading houses and downstream battery/energy customers. The company also commercializes copper cathodes produced as a byproduct of cobalt processing, with shipments to the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. All lots are tracked through a blockchain-based traceability system covering 100% of production.
Product overview
EGC operates as a unified platform managing the entire artisanal cobalt supply chain in the DRC. The company combines three core integrated services: Production de Cobalt (supervision of artisanal extraction), Achat et Commercialisation (exclusive purchasing monopoly and international sales), and Traçabilité et Transparence (blockchain-based traceability). EGC transforms extracted ore locally into cobalt hydroxide and exports copper cathodes, functioning as a vertically integrated state enterprise mandated to formalize and ethicalize artisanal cobalt mining while ensuring 100% traceability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Production de Cobalt (Cobalt Production)
Quantifiable outcome
- First 1,000 tonnes of fully traceable artisanal cobalt produced in November 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Entreprise Générale du Cobalt
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- EVelution EnergycoreStrategic partnership to establish a direct cobalt supply chain from DRC to USA. EGC ensures origin and traceability, Trafigura provides logistics/commercial capabilities, and EVelution processes cobalt into high-value products at Arizona facility. Partners exploring local refining capacity development and possible Congolese minority participation.
- Mercuria Energy Trading SAcoreMOU to formalize and develop the Kasulo mining site at Kolwezi, aiming to establish a 'gold standard' for artisanal mining. The partnership covers health/safety, human rights, environmental management, and end-to-end traceability. Mercuria provides financing access while EGC provides operational oversight.
- Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) AfricamajorMoU signed at Mining Indaba to formalize artisanal mining on ERG-owned sites in Lualaba Province. EGC receives mining rights over ERG exploitation areas. Pilot project aims to improve working conditions, reduce human rights risks, strengthen social cohesion, and ensure supply chain traceability.
- TrafiguracoreStrategic commercial partnership where Trafigura markets EGC cobalt globally and provides logistics expertise. The partnership utilizes the Lobito Atlantic Railway for efficient transport from DRC to Atlantic ports. Trafigura secured $753M in DFC/DBSA financing for LAR expansion.
- GécaminescoreGécamines and Mercuria announced a joint venture in 2025, which preceded Mercuria's commercial relationship with EGC.
- PACT (NGO)supportingInternational NGO partnership for due diligence and responsible sourcing implementation in the artisanal cobalt sector.
- GécaminescoreEGC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gécamines (Générale des Carrières et des Mines), DRC's state mining company. Gécamines established EGC in 2019 to oversee artisanal cobalt operations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt 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 Entreprise Générale du Cobalt
What does Entreprise Générale du Cobalt do?
EGC operates the state-mandated monopoly for artisanal cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, purchasing cobalt from artisanal miners through local cooperatives, processing it into cobalt hydroxide, and selling it to international trading houses and downstream battery/energy customers. The company also commercializes copper cathodes produced as a byproduct of cobalt processing, with shipments to the US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. All lots are tracked through a blockchain-based traceability system covering 100% of production.
Is Entreprise Générale du Cobalt a public or private company?
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Entreprise Générale du Cobalt founded?
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Entreprise Générale du Cobalt based?
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt is headquartered in Kinshasa.
How does Entreprise Générale du Cobalt make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Cobalt Monopoly Operations are the primary driver. The others are copper Cathode Sales.
Does Entreprise Générale du Cobalt have an API?
No public API is recorded for Entreprise Générale du Cobalt.
What industry is Entreprise Générale du Cobalt in?
Entreprise Générale du Cobalt's product category is Cobalt Mining and Trading. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAC, Cobalt Mining & Refining, with a secondary code of IMAKAFAJ, Critical Minerals Trading, Offtake & Marketing. Its NAICS code is 33141 and its SIC code is 1000.