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Active theaterSparse

Central Africa and Southeast Asia

One consolidated view of the Central Africa and Southeast Asia theater — every tracked development, actor, and source report, stitched into a single evolving narrative.

1Developments
1Source reports
2025-02-25First seen
2025-02-25Last seen
Evidence mix1 development
Erik’s assessment1
Countries
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia
Conflict types
Energy and resources

Latest assessment

Continued copper and nickel production will create cobalt stockpiles that could depress prices after the ban ends. Analysis that regulatory uncertainty could push buyers toward alternative producers such as Indonesia.

Assessment development · updated through

What changed most recently
Southern copper beltErik’s assessment

Questions remain about durability of DRC cobalt export restrictions

Continued copper and nickel production will create cobalt stockpiles that could depress prices after the ban ends. Analysis that regulatory uncertainty could push buyers toward alternative producers such as Indonesia.

Open source report

Chronology

How the theater developed

  1. Questions remain about durability of DRC cobalt export restrictions

    Erik’s assessmentEnergy and resourcesSouthern copper belt

    The resulting cobalt byproduct will just be stockpiled in DRC, and - as soon as the export ban is lifted - it will flood the market, crashing prices again. Some analysts are suggesting the export ban could harm DRC's long-term production potential.

    Continued copper and nickel production will create cobalt stockpiles that could depress prices after the ban ends. Analysis that regulatory uncertainty could push buyers toward alternative producers such as Indonesia.

    Open source report