KCC site impressions

At Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), one of our six values is openness. On this page, we regularly publish images of our copper and cobalt operations located near Kolwezi in the Lualaba region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This includes high resolution satellite images, as well as videos and photographs for ‘on the ground’ views.

See for yourself what our large-scale, industrial operations looks like from above. You can also check our 360° virtual reality tour from 2021 to experience the operation for yourself.

Satellite imagery

The below satellite image with a 0.5 m resolution shows our active operations and is updated regularly. The imagery includes KCC’s operations within our perimeter wall (the T-wall). See section below for additional information on the satellite image.

Date of image: June 2024

Ground and air views

Date of video: September 2023

Additional information on satellite image

The satellite image is published unredacted except for the stockyard of cobalt hydroxide bags which is blurred for commercial reasons. The image is updated approximately monthly, even if poor weather conditions limit what’s visible. Previously uploaded satellite images can be viewed by clicking on the legend at the top of the satellite image. Note that the satellite image can have some colour differentiation due to the time lapse in capturing the full site.

Reference satellite views

Below are some typical landforms that can be observed on our site.

^{© CNES 2023, Distribution Airbus DS}

Waste rock disposal - Waste rock is depoisted by trucks in designated waste rock areas producing hummocky shaped landforms as shown here.

Drill and blast - Holes are drilled into the rock mass, loaded with explosives and detonated. This creates a pockmarked type of landform as show here.

Satellite views of artisanal cobalt mining in other parts of Lualaba

As a contrast reference, this is what artisanal mining looks like in satellite images. This section displays typically observed landforms where organised artisanal mining takes or has taken place.

Active artisanal mine workings, where orange tarpaulins are often used to cover the pits where artisanal miners operate.

Historical (abandoned) artisanal mine workings in a former open pit mine.