Tenke Fungurume Copper-Cobalt Mine
One of the world's largest copper-cobalt operations, at the heart of Congo's battery-metals boom.
Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) is a large open-pit copper and cobalt operation in Lualaba Province, in the Congolese Copperbelt. China's CMOC owns 80% and Congo's state miner Gécamines owns 20%. A 2024 expansion added three mixed-ore processing lines, lifting capacity to about 450,000 tonnes of copper and 37,000 tonnes of cobalt a year. Together with its nearby Kisanfu mine, CMOC produced about 650,000 tonnes of copper and 114,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2024, making it the world's largest cobalt producer. A royalty dispute with Gécamines was settled in 2023, and in 2026 Gécamines began marketing its share of TFM's copper.
- 01Run the expanded plant at its capacity of about 450,000 tonnes of copper and 37,000 tonnes of cobalt a year
- 02Supply copper and cobalt for electric-vehicle batteries and power networks
- 03Honour the 2023 settlement with Gécamines, including payments through 2028
- 04Let Gécamines sell copper in proportion to its 20% stake
- 05Improve community and environmental performance in a densely mined region
2009 · completed
Production Start
Copper cathode production began after decades of exploration in the Tenke-Fungurume concession.
2016 · completed
CMOC Takes Control
CMOC bought Freeport-McMoRan's controlling stake in the operation.
2023 · completed
Gécamines Settlement
CMOC agreed an US$800 million settlement payable through 2028, plus at least US$1.2 billion in dividends, ending a royalty dispute.
2024 · completed
Capacity Expansion
New mining capacity and three mixed-ore lines lifted TFM's capacity to about 450,000 t of copper and 37,000 t of cobalt.
2024 · completed
Record Output
CMOC's Congo mines produced about 650,000 t of copper and 114,000 t of cobalt.
2026 · in progress
Gécamines Sells Its Share
Gécamines began buying and marketing about 100,000 t of TFM copper a year, mainly for the US market.
Mineral Resource
Copper-Cobalt Deposits
Oxide and sulphide copper-cobalt ore bodies in the Central African Copperbelt.
Processing Plant
Processing Lines
SX-EW copper and cobalt hydroxide plants, including three mixed-ore lines commissioned in 2023-2024.
Project Owner
Ownership
CMOC (80%) through Tenke Fungurume Mining S.A.; Gécamines (20%).
- Large-scale open-pit mining of oxide and mixed copper-cobalt ores
- Solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) for copper cathode
- Cobalt hydroxide precipitation
- Three mixed-ore processing lines added in 2023-2024
What it means for the community
TFM is a major employer and taxpayer in Lualaba Province and a large share of the world's cobalt supply. Its rapid growth helped push cobalt prices down in 2024. The Gécamines dispute and settlement highlighted debates over how much value Congo captures from foreign-run mines, alongside long-standing concerns about land, resettlement and artisanal mining around the concession.
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- CMOC (80%)
- Gécamines (20%)
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