Mercuria has announced that Gécamines, the state-owned mining enterprise of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has completed its offtake agreement with Kipushi, establishing Gécamines as a significant exporter of zinc concentrate to international markets, according to a company press release reported by IndexBox. Under the multi-year arrangement, Gécamines will market as much as 240,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate over the coming two years through its joint venture with Mercuria. The agreement also allows for larger volumes afterward and places a strategic emphasis on Western supply chains.
Kostas Bintas, Mercuria's Head of Metals, said the agreement broadens the company's partnership with Gécamines, helps the Congolese enterprise realize greater value from the country's mineral resources, and reinforces Western supply chains. Separately, Gécamines intends to optimize the value of the germanium present in the concentrate. The company is also planning to examine possible financing options through Project Vault for strategic stockpiles located in the United States.
The deal pairs Gécamines' resource base with Mercuria's worldwide trading operations, logistics expertise and market reach, linking Kipushi's output with international buyers. Mercuria is described in the source as one of the largest independent energy and commodity groups globally, with activities spanning oil, gas, power and metals. The group operates in more than 50 countries and reports annual revenues above USD 140 billion, and it has directed considerable investment toward renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, and critical transition metals and minerals.
The announcement, as reported, does not specify pricing or other financial terms of the agreement. Source: IndexBox, citing a Mercuria company press release (October 16, 2026).
Source: indexbox.io