IRH Linked to New Copper and Cobalt Mining Projects in Lualaba as UAE Expands Critical Minerals Strategy in DRC
After concluding a $367 million agreement in 2025 to acquire a 56% stake in Alphamin Resources, operator of the Bisie tin mine in North Kivu, International Resources Holding (IRH) is now being linked to copper and cobalt assets in the Lualaba province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to reporting by Africa Intelligence, the Emirati group is associated with structures that have recently become partners of the state-owned mining company Gécamines following a series of mining asset transfers completed in September.
New copper and cobalt joint venture in Lualaba
Official documents released in recent weeks show that the Kabulungu project covering a copper and cobalt deposit in Lualaba is now managed under a joint venture called Kabulungu Kamilombe Mining (KKM). The company is owned 40% by Gécamines and 60% by Falcon Resources.
These filings confirm that Gécamines partially transferred rights over the asset to Falcon Resources, although IRH is not explicitly mentioned in the official documentation.
Additional mining asset transfers
Other mining-related transactions in Lualaba involve tailings and residue exploitation permits that were transferred to Kongo Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Gécamines and Luna Mining.
While public records confirm the existence of these entities and transfers, they do not directly establish a formal capital link between IRH and these companies.
However, Africa Intelligence reports that both Falcon Resources and Luna Mining are connected to the Emirati investment group.
The same source also notes that KKM and KMC share the same Chief Executive Officer, Yehezkel Ambar, suggesting operational coordination between the two entities.
Expanding Emirati footprint in critical minerals
In January 2026, 16 memoranda of understanding were signed in Kolwezi between the provincial government and Emirati companies.
According to local authorities, the agreements include the mining sector, although detailed information on the companies involved has not yet been disclosed.
These developments reflect the growing presence of the United Arab Emirates in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
In Zambia, IRH acquired a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines for $1.1 billion in 2024.
The group is positioning itself across strategic minerals essential to the global energy transition, including copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Corporate filings indicate that IRH operates as a subsidiary of 2PointZero, an investment platform within the broader International Holding Company (IHC) group structure.
About the Author
