Tiger Resources
Tiger Resources was an Australian mining company focused on copper extraction and development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Tiger Resources Limited was an Australia-based mining company whose principal activities were the exploration, development and operation of copper assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The company became publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 1997 and subsequently built its business around the Kipoi copper project in Katanga, now Haut-Katanga, together with exploration and development work at the Lupoto project. Kipoi was developed as a joint venture with Gécamines, the DRC's state-owned mining company. The project contained an inferred resource of approximately 306,000 tonnes of copper in high-grade ore, according to the cited reference material. Tiger initially held 60% of the venture while Gécamines retained 40%. The company invested more than US$60 million in bringing the operation into production and, by June 2011, was producing copper concentrate containing approximately 25% copper at a reported rate of about 130,000 metric tonnes per year. Tiger also considered using operating cash flow to construct a solvent extraction and electrowinning facility capable of producing roughly 50,000 tonnes of copper cathode annually, which would have moved the project further up the value chain from concentrate production to refined copper. The company sought to increase its ownership and operational control of Kipoi. In 2014, Tiger Resources acquired Gécamines' remaining 40% interest for US$111 million, making Tiger the sole shareholder of the mine. Lupoto, another DRC copper asset, was wholly owned by Tiger and was being advanced toward a maiden resource estimate during the early 2010s. These projects placed Tiger among the smaller publicly traded Australian mining companies with a strong geographic concentration in Central African copper. Tiger's shareholder base also reflected the role of international commodity-trading firms in the DRC mining sector. Trafigura was reported to be the company's largest shareholder in September 2011, with a 28% interest. The trading house was also associated with other DRC copper investments, including a significant stake in Anvil Mining at that time. The company later explored a potential sale of its copper assets to Sinomine HK. The proposed transaction, reported at approximately US$260 million, was ultimately abandoned in 2018. Tiger Resources was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in February 2020. Its directors resigned and the company entered administration, marking the end of its period as an ASX-listed operating mining company. The available reference material does not establish a subsequent reactivation, new owner, or continuing corporate operating status.
History
Tiger Resources Limited was an Australian mining company that developed a concentrated copper business in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the company was based in Australia, its operational focus was primarily Central African. It was admitted to trading on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 1997, giving it access to public equity markets for exploration, project development and mining investment. The company's central asset was the Kipoi copper project. Kipoi was structured as a joint venture with Gécamines, the DRC's state-owned mining company. Tiger initially held 60% of the project and Gécamines held the remaining 40%. The project was characterized by a high-grade copper ore resource, with an inferred estimate of approximately 306,000 tonnes of contained copper cited in the available reference material. Tiger invested more than US$60 million to establish the mine and related infrastructure. By 2011, Kipoi had moved from development toward operating production. Tiger was producing copper concentrate with an indicated grade of approximately 25% copper at a rate of around 130,000 metric tonnes annually by June of that year. The company expected the project to begin generating revenue in 2011. It also considered constructing a solvent extraction and electrowinning plant, potentially funded with approximately US$250 million from operating cash flow. The proposed plant would have had annual capacity of about 50,000 tonnes of copper cathode and would have allowed Tiger to produce a more refined product rather than relying solely on concentrate sales. Tiger also pursued greater control of its Congolese assets. It negotiated with Gécamines over an increased interest in Kipoi and completed the purchase of Gécamines' 40% share in 2014. The reported consideration was US$111 million, and the transaction made Tiger the sole shareholder of the mine. The company simultaneously maintained a broader exploration and development portfolio. Its Lupoto mine or project was wholly owned by Tiger, and a maiden resource estimate was expected during the early 2010s. The company's ownership and commercial relationships included major international commodity-trading interests. In September 2011, Trafigura was reported to be Tiger Resources' largest shareholder, holding 28% of the company. Trafigura's presence was consistent with the wider role of trading houses in financing, marketing and investing in African base-metal production. The reference material also notes Trafigura's contemporaneous interest in Anvil Mining, another DRC copper producer. Tiger later considered strategic alternatives for its copper portfolio. In 2018, it examined a proposed sale of its copper assets to Sinomine HK. The reported value of the proposed transaction was approximately US$260 million, but Tiger ultimately abandoned the sale. The available material does not explain in detail whether the decision resulted from financing, regulatory, commercial or other considerations. The company's public-market history ended in February 2020, when Tiger Resources was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange. Its directors resigned and the company entered administration. These events indicate a major corporate failure or insolvency process, but the cited material does not provide sufficient detail to characterize the causes, administrator's findings, creditor outcomes or any later restructuring. On the available evidence, Tiger Resources should be treated as a defunct former listed mining company rather than an active international mining brand.
- 2020
ASX delisting and administration
[1]Tiger Resources was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange, its directors resigned and the company entered administration.
- 2018
Sinomine HK asset sale abandoned
[1]The company called off a proposed approximately US$260 million sale of its copper assets to Sinomine HK.
- 2014
Full ownership of Kipoi acquired
[1]Tiger Resources acquired Gécamines' 40% interest in Kipoi and became the mine's sole shareholder.
- 2011
Kipoi moved into copper production
[1]The Kipoi operation was being developed for revenue generation and was producing copper concentrate by June 2011.
- 2011
Lupoto development continued
[1]Tiger's wholly owned Lupoto project was being advanced, with a maiden resource estimate planned for release.
- 1997
Australian Securities Exchange listing
[1]Tiger Resources was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 1997.
Products and positioning
A copper-focused mining company centered on development and production in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with an emphasis on the Kipoi project and potential downstream copper processing.
Copper mining operation · 2011
Kipoi copper mine
Kipoi was Tiger Resources' principal copper asset in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It began as a joint venture in which Tiger held 60% and Gécamines held 40%. The project contained an inferred high-grade copper resource and progressed into concentrate production around 2011. Tiger later acquired Gécamines' interest in 2014, taking full ownership. The company also considered adding a solvent extraction and electrowinning plant to produce copper cathode from Kipoi material.
Copper exploration and development project
Lupoto copper project
Lupoto was a wholly owned Tiger Resources copper project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the early 2010s, the company was advancing the project and planned to publish a maiden resource estimate. The available reference material does not establish that Lupoto reached commercial production.
Mineral concentrate · 2011
Copper concentrate
Tiger produced copper concentrate from Kipoi. The cited material describes concentrate grading about 25% copper and production at approximately 130,000 metric tonnes per year by June 2011.
Refined copper
Copper cathode
Copper cathode was a planned downstream product rather than a confirmed established product line in the available material. Tiger considered constructing a solvent extraction and electrowinning facility with proposed capacity of roughly 50,000 tonnes per year.
Brand decisions
2020
Exit from public markets and entry into administrationOtherBackground
Tiger Resources' public-company status ended amid a corporate administration process.
Action taken
The company was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange, its directors resigned and it entered administration.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not document a subsequent relisting, restructuring outcome or revival of the operating business.
2018
Abandonment of proposed Sinomine HK saleM&ABackground
Tiger considered selling its copper assets to Sinomine HK as a strategic transaction.
Action taken
The company called off the proposed sale, which had been reported at approximately US$260 million.
Aftermath
Tiger retained its copper assets at that point, although the available material does not explain the commercial or regulatory reasons for abandoning the transaction.
Proposed transaction value. (2018)
2014
Acquisition of Gécamines' Kipoi stakeM&ABackground
Tiger sought greater ownership and control of its main copper operation, which had been jointly owned with Gécamines.
Action taken
Tiger purchased Gécamines' 40% interest in Kipoi for approximately US$111 million.
Aftermath
Tiger became the sole shareholder of the Kipoi mine.
Acquisition consideration. Tiger held 60% of Kipoi → Tiger held 100% of Kipoi (2014)
2011
Consideration of downstream copper processingStrategyBackground
Tiger was producing copper concentrate at Kipoi and considered using operating cash flow to build a solvent extraction and electrowinning facility.
Action taken
The proposed facility would have produced approximately 50,000 tonnes of copper cathode annually, but the available material does not confirm that construction was completed.
Aftermath
The reference material does not document a completed plant or resulting cathode production.
Potential capital allocation. (2011)
Recent events
- 2020
Tiger Resources delisted and entered administration[1]
Bankruptcy · Leadership change
Tiger Resources was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in February 2020; its directors resigned and the company entered administration.
- 2018
Proposed sale of copper assets to Sinomine HK abandoned[1]
M&A
Tiger Resources called off a proposed transaction to sell its copper assets to Sinomine HK for approximately US$260 million.
- 2014
Tiger Resources acquired Gécamines' Kipoi interest[1]
M&A
Tiger Resources bought Gécamines' 40% stake in the Kipoi mine for approximately US$111 million, becoming the project's sole shareholder.
- 2011
Kipoi project advanced toward production[1]
Product launch
Tiger Resources reported development progress at Kipoi, including planned revenue generation, copper-concentrate production and consideration of a solvent extraction and electrowinning plant.
- 2011
Trafigura reported as Tiger Resources' largest shareholder[1]
Other
Trafigura was reported to hold a 28% interest in Tiger Resources in September 2011.
- 1997
Tiger Resources listed on the Australian Securities Exchange[1]
Other
Tiger Resources became listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 1997.
Sources1 sources
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