Miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been banned from exporting copper and cobalt concentrates, in a bid to encourage them to process and refine the product at home.
Government reports said this was part of the country’s attempt to keep more revenue from its huge mineral wealth.
The order also lays down new taxes on economically important by-products of mining.
The ban comes into force immediately but the new by-product tax regime has a three-month transition period.
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The Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt and the second largest supplier of copper, both highly sought after worldwide.
They are used in many different products such as electronics, rechargeable batteries, motors and generators.
The mining sector is the engine of the DRC’s economy accounting for some 50% of the country’s estimated GDP of $10.9 billion.