China Molybdenum (aka CMOC/China Moly), the Chinese minerals giant running one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest cobalt mines, has reported record net profits of about $606 million for the first six months of the year. Profits are up 72% year-on-year, despite ongoing disputes between CMOC and Gecamines, the DRC’s state-owned mining company.
Gecamines alledges that CMOC underestimated cobalt reserves at the Tenke Fungurume Mine (TFM) and owes them billions in royalties. In a breakdown of its earnings (in Chinese), CMOC emphasized its contributions to the DRC: