DR Congo's Katanga province produces 70% of global cobalt and 1.5M+ tonnes of copper annually — critical inputs for EV batteries and electronics. But Congolese banks (Rawbank, TMB) have severely limited correspondent relationships, creating 30-45 day settlement cycles for mineral exports. LCORE's gold DVP: Chinese buyer deposits gold in Abu Dhabi escrow, copper/cobalt concentrate ships from Dar es Salaam or Durban (via Zambia/Tanzania/South Africa transit), BL confirms departure, gold releases in 2-3 days.
Request ConsultationWhen CDF payments are blocked by correspondent banking compliance, LCORE's gold DVP provides a neutral Abu Dhabi alternative. Congolese mining exporters can deposit physical gold into DVP escrow -- commodity delivers -- payment in CDF confirms -- gold releases. 2-3 working days.
ADGM English Law governs. Lloyd's $200M insurance throughout. UAE geopolitically neutral -- not subject to US, EU, or UK sanctions regime.
Confidential. Min $5M. ADGM 28158.
The Republic of Congo derives over 70% of government revenues from crude oil production, making it one of sub-Saharan Africa's most oil-dependent economies. Offshore production from the Moho-Nord, Litoral, and Emerald fields — operated by TotalEnergies, ENI, and state company SNPC — produces approximately 250,000-280,000 barrels per day, exported primarily to China, India, and European refineries. Timber from the Congo Basin rainforest — the world's second-largest tropical forest after the Amazon — supplies Chinese and European buyers with tropical hardwood species including sapele, ayous, and okoumé, subject to EU FLEGT regulations. Potash deposits in the Kouilou region hold significant development potential with Kore Potash's projects targeting fertiliser markets. Diamonds and gold from the Pool and Sangha regions add artisanal mineral exports. Agricultural commodities include palm oil, cocoa, and coffee from the southern and western provinces. Congo's commodity trade is heavily concentrated in oil, creating vulnerability to Brent price cycles.
Congo-Brazzaville uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which provides nominal EUR convertibility but limited direct USD payment channels. The country's banking sector is shallow — fewer than 15 banks operate nationally — and correspondent relationships with major international banks are limited. The World Bank and IMF have documented severe governance and transparency concerns with SNPC (Congo's state oil company), leading US and European compliance departments to apply enhanced scrutiny to oil payment flows. Congo has faced multiple IMF program interruptions due to fiscal mismanagement. The CEMAC monetary framework restricts capital outflows from XAF zone countries, requiring prior authorisation for large non-trade FX transfers. LCORE's gold DVP provides Congo commodity traders with a neutral Abu Dhabi settlement mechanism that operates independently of the CEMAC capital flow restrictions and the limited Congolese correspondent banking infrastructure.