Investigation: Lighthouse Reports alleges the DRC exported between 2,000 and 5,000 tonnes of uranium to China from 2000–2024, often as a by-product of cobalt mining. The probe cites a leaked IAEA-attributed memo and internal company documents from TFM/CMOC. The alleged shipments would contravene the DRC's ban on commercial uranium exports and raise questions about oversight in cobalt supply chains.
Investigation Alleges DRC Secretly Exported Thousands Of Tonnes Of Uranium To China (2000–2024)
A chart showing DR Congo's main commodity export destinations.
An investigation by Netherlands-based nonprofit Lighthouse Reports alleges that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has quietly exported uranium to China for more than two decades, often as a by-product of cobalt mining.
Details Of The Investigation
Lighthouse Reports says its probe is based on a leaked memo attributed to the UN-affiliated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and internal documents from TFM — a Congolese mining firm that was formerly American-owned and is now part of China’s CMOC, the world’s largest cobalt producer. According to the report, "significant quantities" of uranium were shipped to China alongside cobalt ore despite a national ban on commercial uranium exports.
Key Findings
Estimated Volume: The investigation estimates that between 2,000 and 5,000 tonnes of uranium were exported from the DRC to China between 2000 and 2024.
Export Context: Much of the alleged uranium moved as a by-product of cobalt ore shipments; the DRC supplies roughly 95% of its cobalt ore to China, according to the report.
Historical And Local Context
The Shinkolobwe mine in southeastern Katanga (now part of Haut-Katanga Province) supplied high-grade uranium used in US nuclear weapons during World War II. Although Shinkolobwe was formally closed in 2004, mining and related activity continue in the region, and illicit or informal extraction has long been a concern for regulators and local communities.
Legal And Transparency Questions
The alleged shipments raise questions about enforcement of the DRC's ban on commercial uranium exports and about oversight of by-product handling in large-scale cobalt supply chains. Lighthouse Reports' reliance on leaked documents means the claims are presented as allegations that warrant further verification by authorities and independent monitors.
What Is Not Yet Confirmed
At the time of the report, there is no public, independently verified cargo manifest or government confirmation validating the full scale of the alleged exports. Companies named in the investigation and relevant government agencies have not necessarily provided public responses to all of the claims.
Allegation: "Significant quantities" of uranium were exported to China as a by-product of cobalt shipments, despite a ban on commercial uranium exports.
This article summarizes the allegations and context reported by Lighthouse Reports and related documents; the claims remain subject to further investigation and official confirmation.
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