CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 30, 2026/APO Group/ —
The in-person gathering of DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum (DCMI), co‑located with the DRC‑Africa Battery Metals Forum, has been postponed but will continue as an exclusive, high-impact digital webinar series.
The event was meant to take place in Kinshasa from 7 to 8 October. VUKA Group, the organisers of the event said a strategic decision was made “following consultation with our partners, industry stakeholders and advisory board members to ensure our agenda directly reflects the latest government priorities, project pipelines and investment structures.” The in-person Forum will return in 2027.
Critical mineral beneficiation
Samukelo Madlabane, VUKA Group’s Events Director – Mining: “The DRC government is currently updating and operationalising its $58 billion Master Plan for Industrialisation (Plan Directeur d’Industrialisation, PDI) originally launched in 2021. Rather than overhauling the base plan, the DRC Government is rolling out targeted, updated strategy frameworks to accelerate in-country critical mineral beneficiation, special economic zones and industrial corridors.”
“Therefore,” he explains: “to align directly with these updated national policy frameworks and allow the revised PDI implementation roadmaps to mature, we are extending our timeline and hosting the Forum in 2027.”
“Building on the momentum generated by DRC Mining Week,” Madlabane continues, “the Forum was conceived as a dedicated platform to accelerate the DRC’s transition from raw mineral extraction to downstream processing, manufacturing and industrial development. The Forum’s core mission remains uniting government, investors, mining companies, refiners, manufacturers, infrastructure providers, investors and development partners to build localised value chains and ensure that the DRC uses its critical minerals as drivers for industrialisation.”
He adds: “As part of our ongoing commitment to bringing the industry together, the Forum will now be delivered as a curated series of specialised digital sessions designed to keep critical discussions moving forward. Attendees can expect the same high-level panel discussions, regulatory updates, and industrialisation insights originally planned for the live event, now accessible through an engaging virtual platform that enables greater participation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across the sector.”
Digital webinar series
The launch date of digital webinar series will be announced soon, and it will run until 2027, providing convenient access to the insights, market intelligence and strategic discussions planned for the live event.
The series will cover topics ranging from beneficiation and industrialisation to investment, energy, ESG and the Lobito Corridor, helping participants stay informed on the trends, opportunities and developments shaping the critical minerals sector. The sessions will also feature advisory board members, industry leaders and strategic partners, providing valuable perspectives and connections ahead of the 2027 Forum.
All registrations, sponsorships and expressions of interest will transfer to the 2027 edition, ensuring that all stakeholders’ investments and engagement with the Forum continue uninterrupted.
DRC’s transition
DCMI unites government, industry and investors to accelerate the country’s transition from raw‑material extraction to high‑value manufacturing, underscoring the nation’s opportunity to convert mineral wealth into infrastructure, jobs and sustainable economic growth.
The DRC’s Ministries of Mines and of Industry and Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) are official partners of the event.
