DR Congo uranium secretly shipped to China for 20 years, investigation finds

An investigative report co-published by Lighthouse and the Financial Times alleges that uranium from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been secretly exported to China for over 20 years, sourced from the same region that supplied uranium for U.S. nuclear weapons during World War II. The report claims uranium was exported as a by-product of cobalt ore from the Katanga region, with researchers estimating 2,000 to 5,000 tonnes were shipped to China between 2000 and 2024. This period coincides with China's nuclear arsenal doubling to over 600 warheads, though the DRC has maintained an indefinite ban on commercial uranium exports since 2004. Scientists from the University of Wisconsin and Princeton University used geochemical modeling and historical rock samples to trace the exports, while leaked documents from the Tenke Fungurume mine reportedly showed uranium concentrations up to 15 times legal limits. Chinese mining company CMOC, which owns the mine, denied the allegations, stating its products comply with all local regulations.