Belgium Guarantees Funding for Congo Germanium Plant to Cut China Dependence

Belgium has signed off on a state-backed guarantee that will cover upfront payments for Germanium delivered from a plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal allows Umicore, a major Belgian refiner, to lock in future supplies while transferring a portion of the commercial risk to the Belgian state. The Congolese plant, run by a unit of state miner Gécamines, currently produces four to five tonnes of Germanium and aims to reach a capacity that could satisfy roughly 15% of worldwide demand.

Europe is seeking to diversify away from China, which supplies about 60% of the mineral and has imposed export restrictions since 2023. Peter Handley, a former EU official on critical minerals, emphasized the need to reduce dependence on Chinese sources. The guarantee is part of broader efforts to secure critical materials for fiber-optic networks, infrared defense systems and semiconductors.