Natural resources of Congo
Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in Congo: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.
Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)
37.7 %
Resources, share of goods exports (2024)
97.8 %
Crude oil, barrels a day (2025)
241,236
Natural gas, billion cubic metres (2024)
1.8
Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Oil, gas and coal
Congo produced about 241,236 barrels of crude oil a day in 2025. Proved oil reserves were 2.9 billion barrels in 2021. It produced 1.8 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2024, and exported 0.4 billion. Proved gas reserves were 284 billion cubic metres in 2021.
View the data as a table
| Period | Crude oil |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 340 |
| 2011 | 288 |
| 2012 | 260 |
| 2013 | 239 |
| 2014 | 233 |
| 2015 | 238 |
| 2016 | 198 |
| 2017 | 245 |
| 2018 | 340 |
| 2019 | 330 |
| 2020 | 283 |
| 2021 | 266 |
| 2022 | 275 |
| 2023 | 262 |
| 2024 | 247 |
| 2025 | 241 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Data. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Production | Exports |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2011 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| 2012 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2016 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2018 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| 2024 | 1.8 | 0.4 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Data. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Mining and minerals
The U.S. Geological Survey records 10 mineral commodities with published production in Congo between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.
Showing 10 of 10
| Copper, mine and refinery, leaching and electrowon, copper cathode | Metals | Not published | 15,875 | 13,607 | 8,342 | 12,860 | 9,040 | 2020: r; 2021: r |
| Iron ore, mine, gross weight | Metals | thousand metric tons | 40 | 50 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 2018: e; 2019: r; 2020: e; 2021: e; 2022: e |
| Iron ore, mine, fe content | Metals | thousand metric tons | 26 | 33 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 2018: e; 2019: r; 2020: e; 2021: e; 2022: e |
| Zinc, mine, Zn content | Metals | Not published | 4,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 9,246 | 11,938 | 2018: e; 2019: e; 2020: e; 2021: r |
| Zinc, refinery, primary | Metals | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | 9,246 | 11,938 | 2018: --; 2019: --; 2020: --; 2021: r |
| Cement, hydraulic | Industrial Minerals | thousand metric tons | 700 | 730 | 600 | 748 | 894 | 2018: e; 2019: e; 2020: e; 2021: r |
| Diamond, gem, natural | Industrial Minerals | carats | 47,579 | 2,963 | 11,157 | 4,125 | 3,534 | Not published |
| Natural gas | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | thousand cubic meters | 867,000 | 580,000 | 405,000 | 415,000 | 420,000 | 2022: e |
| Crude | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | thousand 42-gallon barrels | 118,078 | 122,799 | 112,024 | 97,455 | 95,630 | 2019: r; 2020: r |
| Refinery | Mineral Fuels And Related Materials | thousand 42-gallon barrels | 6,570 | 6,205 | 6,222 | 6,421 | 6,200 | 2022: e |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Showing 41 of 41
| Cement | Ciments d'Afrique (CIMAF) [Omnium des Industries et de la Promotion Group (OIP)] | Plant at Hinda, near Pointe Noire, Kouilou Department | 500 | thousand metric tons |
| Cement | Dangote Cement Plc (Dangote Group) | Plant at Mfila, near Madingou Bouenza Department | 1,500 | thousand metric tons |
| Cement | Diamond Cement Group | Plant at Mindouli, Pool Department | 700 | thousand metric tons |
| Cement | FORSPAK International Congo S.A.R.L. | Plant at Dolisie, Niari Department | 300 | thousand metric tons |
| Cement | Société Nouvelle des Ciments du Congo (SONOCC) (Société National Chinoise des Travaux des Ponts et Chaussées, 56%, and Government, 44%) | Plant at Loutete, Bouenza Department | 300 | thousand metric tons |
| Copper do. | Société de Recherche et d'Exploitation Minière (SOREMI) [China National Gold Group Corp. (Soremi Investment Ltd.), 89.6%; Government, 10%; other investors 0.4% ] | Boko-Songho and Yanga-Koubenza polymetallic mines and SOREMI SX–EW plant, Mfouati district in Bouenza Department | 20 | Not published |
| Copper do. | Société Lulu de Mine (Shenglong International Investment Ltd., 90%, and Government, 10%) | Mpassa Mine, Mindouli, Pool Department | Not published | Not published |
| Diamond | Artisanal production | Mines located in Kouilou, Lekoumou Likouala, Niari, and West Cuvette Department | 50,000 | carats |
| Gold | Artisanal production | Mines in various locations | Not published | kilograms |
| Iron ore | Sapro Mayoko S.A. (Sapro Mayoko S.A. 90%, and | Mayoko Mine, Niari Department | 12,000 | thousand metric tons |
| gross weight | Government, 10%) | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 90%, and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 10% | Awa-Paloukou Field, offshore | 4,000 | Not published |
| Crude | Wing Wah Petrochemicals, 85%, and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 15% | Banga Kayo Field, onshore | 18,300 | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 50%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, 40%; Africa Oil and Gas Corp., 10% | Djambala Field, offshore | 1,500 | Not published |
| Crude | Congorep., 69.38%; Perenco Group, 15.62%; and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 15% | Emeraude Field, offshore | 8,000 | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 58%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, 34%; Africa Oil and Gas Corp., 8% | Foukanda and Mwafi Fields, offshore | 5,800 | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 85%, and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 15% | Ikalou/Ikalou Sud Fields, offshore | 3,000 | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 52%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, 38%; Africa Oil and Gas Corp., 10% | Kitina Field, offshore | 15,000 | Not published |
| Crude | Perenco Group, 55%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, 20%; Petro Congo, 10%; Africa Oil and Gas Corp., 10% | Kombi, Libondo, Likalala II Fields offshore | 7,700 | Not published |
| Crude | Eni Congo S.A., 75%, and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 25% | Kouakouala Field, onshore | Not published | Not published |
| Crude | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo 26.75%; Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 15.75%; Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. Ltd., 15.5%; Angola Block 14 BV, 10%; Eni Congo S.A., 10%; Sonagol, 10%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 7.5%; GALP, 4.5% | Lianzi Field, offshore | 14,600 | Not published |
| Crude | Congorep [joint venture of Perenco Group, 51%, and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 49%], 65%, and Eni Congo S.A., 35% | Likouala Field, offshore | 5,000 | Not published |
| Crude | Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) 95%; and Continent Congo S.A., 5% | Loango II Field, offshore | 6,500 | Not published |
| (Thousand 42-gallon barrels unless otherwise specified) | Major operating companies and | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Commodity | and major equity owners | Location of main facilities | Not published | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) 100% | Loufika and Zingali Fields, onshore | 240 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Eni Congo S.A., 83%; Tullow Oil Plc, 11%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 6% | M'Boundi Field, onshore | 20,000 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo 53.5%; Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 31.5%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 0.15 | Moho-Bilondo Field, offshore | 32,000 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo 53.5%; Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 31.5%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 0.15 | Moho-Nord Field, offshore | 51,100 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Eni Congo S.A., 65%; PJSC Lukoil, 25%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 10% | Nene-Banga Marine and Litchendjili Fields, offshore | Not published | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo 53.5%; Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 31.5%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 0.15% | Nkossa and Nsoko Fields, offshore | 18,000 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo 46.96%; Eni Congo S.A., 29.75%; Qatar Energy, 8.29%; Perenco Group, 7.65%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 7.35% | Sendji and Yanga Fields, offshore | 9,500 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Perenco Group, 40%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 20%; Africa Oil and Gas Corp., 10%; Continent Congo S.A., 10%; National Holdings (Petromal) 10%; Nor Energy AS, 10%; Petro Congo, 5% | Tchibeli, Tchibouela, and Tchendo Fields, offshore | 21,000 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Perenco Group, 42.5%; The Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 39%; Petro Congo, 18.5% | Yombo-Masseko Field, offshore | 3,600 | Not published |
| Crude—Continued | Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) 95.54%, and Qatar Energy, 4.46% | Zatchi II Field, offshore | 7,600 | Not published |
| Refined products | Congolaise de Raffinage [Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 100%] | Pointe Noire National Oil Refinery | 7,700 | Not published |
| Refinery production, liquefied | TotalEnergies Exploration & Production Congo | Nkossa refinery platform, offshore | 3,000 | Not published |
| petroleum gas | 53.5%; Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 31.5%; Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), 15% | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Mine | Société Lulu de Mine (Shenglong International Investment Ltd., 90%, Government, 10%) | Mpassa and Mindouli Mines, Pool Department | Not published | thousand metric tons |
| Mine | Société de Recherche et d'Exploitation Minière (SOREMI) [China National Gold Group Corp. (Soremi Investment Ltd.), 89.6%; Government, 10%; other investors 0.4% ] | Boko-Songho and Yanga-Koubenza polymetallic mines, Mfouati District, Bouenza Department | 12 | thousand metric tons |
| Refinery do. | Société de Recherche et d'Exploitation Minière (SOREMI) [China National Gold Group Corp. (Soremi Investment Ltd.), 89.6%; Government, 10%; other investors 0.4% ] | SOREMI SX–EW plant, Mfouati District, Bouenza Department | 12 | Not published |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook 2022, Congo. Last checked 24 October 2026.
What natural resources earn
Natural resource rents were 37.7% of GDP in 2021, with oil the largest part. That ranks Congo 3rd of 54 African countries. See all 54.
View the data as a table
| Period | Oil | Natural gas | Minerals | Forests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 40.9 % | 0.5 % | 0.0 % | 2.5 % |
| 2011 | 48.7 % | 0.7 % | 0.0 % | 2.4 % |
| 2012 | 38.1 % | 0.7 % | 0.0 % | 2.6 % |
| 2013 | 29.7 % | 0.9 % | 0.0 % | 2.5 % |
| 2014 | 24.8 % | 0.5 % | 0.0 % | 2.3 % |
| 2015 | 12.3 % | 0.5 % | 0.0 % | 3.1 % |
| 2016 | 12.8 % | 0.4 % | 0.0 % | 3.8 % |
| 2017 | 25.0 % | 0.4 % | 0.0 % | 4.3 % |
| 2018 | 38.2 % | 0.6 % | 0.0 % | 3.9 % |
| 2019 | 35.9 % | 0.4 % | 0.0 % | 3.0 % |
| 2020 | 22.4 % | 0.2 % | 0.0 % | 3.6 % |
| 2021 | 34.4 % | 0.4 % | 0.0 % | 3.0 % |
| 2022 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2023 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2024 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2025 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Forest, share of land (2024)
64.0 %
Arable land, share of land (2024)
1.6 %
Renewable fresh water per person (2022)
36,785 m³
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Method and sources
Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.
USGS country page for Congo. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.
Frequently asked questions
What natural resources does Congo have?
Congo's main natural resources are crude oil and natural gas. Oil, gas and coal made up 93% of its goods exports in 2024, and all resources together 97.8%. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 37.7% of GDP in 2021, mostly from oil. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of iron ore, zinc and diamond.
Does Congo produce oil?
Yes. Congo produced about 241,236 barrels of crude oil a day in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Proved oil reserves were 2.9 billion barrels in 2021.
What is Congo's most valuable natural resource?
By export earnings, oil, gas and coal: 93% of goods exports in 2024, according to UN Comtrade.
How much do natural resources contribute to Congo's economy?
Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 37.7% of GDP in 2021. That ranks Congo 3rd of 54 African countries.
Which companies mine in Congo?
The U.S. Geological Survey's 2022 list of Congo's mineral industry names 32 operating companies, including Ciments d'Afrique, Dangote Cement Plc, Diamond Cement Group, FORSPAK International Congo S.A.R.L. and Société Nouvelle des Ciments du Congo. The full list is on this page.