Coltan is among minerals now classified by the DRC as ‘strategic’ substances meaning that it will be subject to an increased royalty rate of 10% under the recently changed Mining Code. According to Reuters, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Mines signed a decree on 24th November 2018 which declared coltan, as well as cobalt and germanium, as strategic mineral resources. The listing of strategic substances has been awaited since the DRC’s Mining Code was updated in June this year and has been subject to much debate, particularly in relation to cobalt supplies. The rate under the previous Mining Code was 2%, which rose to 3.5% for non-strategic minerals in June
