The programme, known as the Programme of Aerogeophysical and Geological Mapping of the DRC (PC2G-RDC), is being executed by Spanish-based geophysical company Xcalibur Multiphysics Group SL, which has experience conducting mineral mapping projects across Africa.
Launched on October 5 at Ndolo National Airport in Kinshasa under the patronage of President Félix Tshisekedi, the programme will run for 36 months and collect magnetic, radiometric, gravimetric and electromagnetic data across several parts of the country.
Speaking at the launch, DRC Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba said the programme would increase the country’s geoscientific coverage to 46.1%, up from 22.27%, as per Reuters.
According to Xcalibur, the three-year project will cover more than 700,000 square kilometres across Kasai, Kwango, Kongo Central and Katanga, using airborne geophysics, fieldwork and advanced data management to create a new geological baseline for the country and guide investment and long-term development.
Why the DRC is mapping its mineral wealth
The DRC’s national geological mapping project dates back to 2017, when the government signed an initial contract with Xcalibur for airborne geophysical and geological mapping.
The agreement was subsequently amended in 2019 and 2022, with the programme divided into a priority Phase A and an optional Phase B. In January 2026, the government signed a second contract with Xcalibur to advance Phase B, building on the results of the first phase.
The programme is being coordinated by the National Geological Service of Congo under the Ministry of Mines and financed by the Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN).
The aircraft will directly identify potential mineral deposits, while the surveys will generate geological data to pinpoint areas of mineralisation and guide more targeted exploration and drilling.
The government expects the improved geological data to reduce uncertainty and exploration risks for mining companies while giving the state better information for investment and resource-management decisions.
Xcalibur brings an established African track record to the project. The Spanish company has previously carried out airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys in Nigeria and has worked on geophysical projects in several other African countries.
Its role in the DRC comes as Kinshasa seeks greater control and understanding of its geological data. Reuters reported last month that the country was seeking to centralise geological information as part of a broader effort to strengthen state oversight of its mineral resources and attract investment.
The DRC holds major deposits of copper and cobalt and is also believed to have significant reserves of other critical minerals. Yet large parts of its territory remain insufficiently explored.
By combining airborne surveys with geological work on the ground, the government hopes to build a more detailed picture of what lies beneath the country and use that information to guide the next generation of mining investment.
Source: africa.businessinsider.com
