Who this page is for. Professional investors seeking battery metals exposure with asset control and contracted offtake. Not investment advice. Not an offer or solicitation. Participation subject to diligence, KYC AML sanctions, and documentation.
Copperbelt Tailings and Slag to Cathode and Cobalt Hydroxide
Tailings and smelter slags across the DRC and Zambia hold recoverable copper and, in many DRC sites, meaningful cobalt. We acquire or contract the dumps, fund process upgrades, lock insured offtake, and convert legacy waste into saleable cathode and hydroxide. Shorter timelines than new mines, lower mining risk, and strong ESG upside when remediation is real.
Why this works
- Known feed. Stockpiles are mapped and sampled, so you start with measured material instead of geological guesswork.
- Capex-light relative to greenfield. Many sites have power, water, roads, and existing circuits that can be debottlenecked.
- Clear offtake pull. Smelters and battery intermediates buyers want reliable units. We price to benchmarks with differentials that reflect quality and logistics.
- ESG lift with cash returns. Reprocessing removes legacy risks and funds long term site closure plans.
What we do end to end
- Sourcing and access agreements with owners of tailings and slag dumps, including rights to expand to adjacent stockpiles.
- Metallurgical test work and flowsheet selection across heap leach and SX-EW for oxides, DC arc or tailored hydromet where needed.
- Project financing using offtake prepayment or streaming, plus a working capital revolver for consumables and logistics.
- Collateral control with a Collateral Management Agreement, approved depots, warehouse receipts, endorsed bills of lading, and insurance naming lenders as loss payee.
- Offtake with floors or collars, assay rules, penalties, replacement and make up mechanics, and delivery insurance.
- Environmental and community plan tied to cash releases. Measurable remediation and audited benefit sharing.
Focus regions
- DRC Copperbelt. Tailings and slags with copper plus cobalt credits. Priority on sites near reliable power and permitted depots.
- Zambia Copperbelt and North Western. Large slags and tailings near smelting hubs, strong logistics to port corridors.
Commercial mechanics that protect capital
| Topic | Our approach | Investor benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Feed control | Access contracts, survey control, periodic resampling, moisture and grade reconciliation | Predictable head grades and tonnage |
| Pricing | Benchmark LME for copper and published references for cobalt with differentials and penalties | Transparent revenue and hedgeability |
| Security | CMA, WRs, endorsed BLs, DACAs, escrow waterfall | Cash priority and enforceability |
| Insurance | Delivery, cargo and stock, optional political risk | Downside protection |
| ESG | Remediation milestones tied to disbursements and public reporting | License to operate and buyer acceptance |
We underwrite to conservative grades and recoveries and scale once performance is proven. Hype is easy, delivery is what pays.
How a mandate runs
| Phase | Weeks | Outputs |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing and LOI | 3 to 8 | Access contracts, sampling plan, red flag ESG and title checks |
| Met test work and terms | 4 to 10 | Flowsheet, opex model, offtake heads, insurance quotes |
| Finance and close | 4 to 8 | Prepayment or stream, RCF, CMA and depot approvals, CP list |
| Operate and scale | Programmed | KPIs, sweep to investors, expansion tranches on performance |
Read more about our Battery Metals Investment Fund and this Copperbelt tailings and slag strategy
Read More About the FundDisclaimers
- This page is marketing information for professional investors only. It is not an offer or solicitation.
- Any investment would be made only through final documents to qualified investors and may not be available in all jurisdictions.
- Outcomes depend on diligence, permits, power, logistics, counterparty performance, and market prices.
