Key Minerals of the African Continent: Rise of Resource Nationalism - Democratic Republic of the Congo Plans to Strengthen Regulation of Mineral Exports in 2026
A report published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in January 2026 indicates that the Democratic Republic of the Congo plans to strengthen control over mineral exports to increase tax revenue.
The authorities aim to improve the measurement of export volume, ore grade, and moisture content, factors that directly affect taxable value.
The government plans to deploy automated weighing and quality control systems by March 2026 to reduce tax leakage.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo plans to strengthen regulation of its mineral exports to improve the efficiency of tax collection. In a report released in January 2026, the IMF conveyed the authorities' goal of ensuring more reliable assessments of "export volume, ore grade, and moisture content," which determine product valuation and tax base. Additionally, the IMF emphasized the fiscal losses caused by inadequate regulation. The report states, "Studies show that due to insufficient oversight of the production and content of precious metals, we have lost nearly half of our potential mining revenue." Therefore, the authorities stated that they hope to "increase the collection of mining revenues under the principle of minimizing human contact."
To address these weaknesses, the authorities announced plans to deploy technical tools by March 2026 to strengthen physical monitoring of export flows. They plan to implement "truck weighing equipment and computerized non-intrusive quality control mechanisms" to improve the accuracy of measurements at export points.
At the same time, the reforms also include strengthening analytical capabilities. According to the IMF report, the authorities plan to "obtain approval from the Ministry of Mines by January 2026" in order to "activate a mineral analysis laboratory according to a contract with the Tax Administration (DGI)."
The authorities' goal is to build technical capacity to support export controls and enhance compliance. The report states that efforts are being made to improve the assessment of export characteristics, including moisture content and ore grade, which play a key role in verifying declared value and determining corresponding taxes.
Aside from the mining industry, the IMF also emphasized the broader challenge of modernizing financial management and control systems. The report noted that due to the authorities' efforts to strengthen data cross-verification through automation and digitization, current tax audits "have only achieved less than 15% of their potential benefits."
Overall, the IMF's supported strategy involves strengthening physical and analytical controls over mineral exports and transitioning to a more automated system. Authorities expect these measures to improve the reliability of controls and safeguard public fiscal revenue.
Source: ecofinagency
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855130173364233/
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