Congo-Zambia copper corridor to reopen Tuesday after road damage, minister

ACCRA, March 2 (Reuters) - The main corridor for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s copper, cobalt and other mineral exports is expected to reopen on Tuesday after road damage halted flows, Zambia’s infrastructure minister told Reuters on Monday.

Congo is Africa’s largest copper producer and the world’s second-largest copper producer by output. It is also the world’s dominant cobalt supplier, producing over 70% of global cobalt output and exporting the bulk of it alongside other key battery minerals.

Traffic through Kasumbalesa, the busiest crossing for Congo’s metal shipments – mainly destined for China and the United States – was suspended on Sunday after heavy rains washed away a portion of the road.

No mining company has so far reported that copper or cobalt shipments have been held up.

Minister Charles Milupi said while the route remains closed, freight operators from both countries can divert through the Mokambo crossing in Mufulira, or the Sakanya border near Ndola – an alternative that is almost three times longer than the Kasumbalesa run.

Footage on social media showed trucks and pedestrians stranded along the corridor.

Major mining operators in Congo include China’s CMOC 603993.SS, Glencore GLEN.L, Ivanhoe Mines IVN.TO complex and Eurasian Resources Group.