to working alongside public and private partners to deliver infrastructure that not only supports the Zanaga Project but also contributes to wider economic growth, industrialisation and investment across the Republic of Congo, positioning it as an Atlantic hub for central Africa. The value of timing The timing of Zanaga’s development is particularly significant, with global demand for high-grade iron ore being reshaped by decarbonisation policies and cleaner steel production technologies. As producers increasingly seek DRI-grade feedstocks, deposits capable of meeting these specifications are expected to command premium valuations, particularly given a forecasted supply deficit. Since the company’s confirmation that the Zanaga Project is capable of producing a 68.5% - 69.1% Fe DRI grade pellet feed product, ideally suited for the emerging green steel market, Zanaga’s development strategy has focused heavily on this facet. This gives the Republic of Congo an opportunity to position itself within one of the most important industrial transitions currently taking place worldwide. Rather than competing solely on resource volume, the country can compete on resource quality and strategic relevance to low-carbon industrial supply chains. Strong endorsements Development plans for the Zanaga Project involve an estimated capex of US$2.17 billion, and whilst this is expected to be met over a longer horizon, investor appetite is already evident as the company work towards a Final Investment Decision in 2027. The project’s latest investor group comprises notable mining executives with a pedigree of generating significant value from development projects, including Sir Mick Davis. This group have evidently seen potential in its scale, economics and market positioning. However, it’s important to consider that a vote of confidence in Zanaga is a vote of confidence in the Republic of Congo; perhaps the strongest endorsement of any investment destination is continued private-sector commitment. This investor interest reflects confidence that the Republic of Congo can support the development of this globally significant project over the long term and offers a strong incentive for future industrial activity in the country. The Republic of Congo is quietly enhancing its reputation for offering a measured and predictable operating environment, and the advancement of the Zanaga Project over many years, alongside continued engagement with government authorities, infrastructure partners, international investors and supportive community stakeholders, reflects a level of assurity that often constitutes the necessary ingredients for bringing a major mining project into production. Whilst the Zanaga Iron Ore Company may be seen as an industry junior when compared with the sector’s heavyweights, this is a status the developers deliberately embrace. Operating with a leaner structure permits faster decision-making and more nimble processes than those typically available to larger competitors, whose scale often brings slower governance, greater bureaucracy, and reduced agility. For Zanaga, this advantage enables both technical optimisation, as evidenced by the successful production of a DRI-grade product, and alignment with evolving market dynamics, while maintaining a clear strategic stakeholder focus. n
Zanaga has consistently prioritised supporting training and employment opportunities.
Feasibility phase excavation work at the Zanaga Project.
governmental officials, regulators and stakeholders. It has progressed through feasibility studies, environmental workstreams, infrastructure planning and investor engagement, underpinned by consistent positive relations with the relevant authorities, offering a positive case study of the Republic of Congo’s capacity and willingness to facilitate the advancement of businesses that can stimulate national growth. Establishing a logistics backbone One of the most interesting aspects of the Zanaga Project is the associated infrastructure strategy. Development plans include mining operations, mineral processing facilities, a potential 30 million tonnes per annum capacity pipeline, power generation and transmission, and export infrastructure on the Atlantic coast. This strategy has taken Zanaga’s potential impact beyond a single mine – helping establish a logistics backbone necessary for future industrial and mining activity across the country. The project’s connection to the Pointe-Indienne Special Economic Zone (SEZ) through a Memorandum of Understanding with the zone’s developer Plateformes Industrielles du Congo (PICP) has given way to strategic engagement to explore the development of the Zanaga Project’s downstream process infrastructure and export facilities within the SEZ. In February 2025, the company’s infrastructure plans were further bolstered by an agreement with Centrale Électrique du Congo (CEC) to assess solutions for meeting the project’s power requirements by leveraging CEC’s existing 484 MW energy assets. Engagement is also ongoing on this front. These collaborations reflect Zanaga’s broader commitment
SEPTEMBER 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 11
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