Kinsei Ryu
ChairmanMore than 20 years ago, Mr. Ryu moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo and began working in mining. After gaining deep knowledge and hands-on experience, he founded KEC and became Chairman of Metio.
METIO × KATANGA EXPLORATION COMPANY
From the Land of Africa,
to Japanese Industry.
In 2025, Metio Co., Ltd. gained the rights to sell in Japan, and to act as a mining agent, for Katanga Exploration Company (KEC). We bring important minerals and refined metals from the Katanga copper belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Japan, backed by a strong local network.
Contact Us
PHOTO — Katanga Copper Belt, on site (provided by KEC)NEWS
See All News →BusinessSales, agency, surveys and mine support
Main ProductsCopper, tin, cobalt, tantalum, titanium, lithium, iron ore, tungsten
RegionDRC (Katanga Copper Belt) and more
KEC ScaleAbout 900 employees
Strengths20+ years of exploration, high core recovery, equipment and local logistics
01 — BUSINESS
Why does a camper van company work in mining?
Metio started in 1997 as a software company. From 2009, we made and sold camper vans in our Rakuneru series. We were one of the first companies in the industry to keep finished vans ready to ship right away, and on our own we sell about 200 vans a year. Later, Kinsei Ryu became our Chairman, and Metio became KEC’s official agent in Japan. After building stable income from our camper van business, we entered the mining field in 2025. We now introduce KEC’s geological survey and mining work across the whole Katanga copper belt to people in Japan.
01Sale of mineral resources and refined metals
02Mining business and consulting
03Mining area development agency
04Geological and mine surveys
05Reports on reserves and mining output
06Leasing of machines and vehicles
07Mine worker dispatch and management
08Mine operations, transport, drilling, and export
About 200 vans/year
Metio camper van sales
About 900 employees
KEC company size
Note: KEC follows HSE (Health, Safety, Environment) standards.
02 — OUR STRENGTHS
Our Strengths
01
Global Sourcing
Over 20 years of exploration work and a strong local network secure a stable supply.
02
Quality and Trust
Analysis reports based on core sampling and geological surveys support our quality.
03
Stable Supply
Our own equipment and logistics help maintain a continuous supply system.
04
Long-Term Partnerships
We take a committed approach backed by collaboration across the EU, US, and South Korea.
CapitalPeople & ConnectionsKnow-how
03 — COLLABORATION
Bringing together capital, people, and know-how
KEC already works with conglomerate companies in the EU, the US, and South Korea. Metio, as KEC’s official agent in Japan, can offer the same kind of partnership. For companies that want to try a new, untapped market, we also offer consulting based on Chairman Ryu’s deep experience.
04 — PRODUCTS
Minerals and Refined Metals We Handle
Minerals are shipped through Tanzania. We check quality through geological surveys such as core sampling and provide analysis reports. After refining, we sell copper plates, cathodes, and various ingots. Besides minerals from our own mines in Katanga, our network across Africa also lets us export many kinds of refined metals.
05 — VIDEO
Inside KEC’s Katanga Mining Site
These are the latest videos from KEC’s mining site in the Katanga copper belt. Watch our drilling and transport work in action.
VIDEO — Mining site movie 01
VIDEO — Mining site movie 02
VIDEO — Mining site movie 03
Videos provided by KEC.
06 — COMPANY
Metio Co., Ltd.
- Company Name
- Metio Co., Ltd.
- Office
- 637 Murakuni, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 339-0041, Japan
- Founded
- December 24, 1997
- Capital
- 30,000,000 yen
- Main Banks
- MUFG Bank / Saitama Resona Bank
- Business Hours
- 10:00–18:00 (closed Tuesdays)
07 — EXECUTIVE PROFILES
Takanori Sato
PresidentMr. Sato started as an engineer at Metio and later worked on planning, production, and sales for camper vans. He became President in November 2024 and mainly handles public relations for mining.
08 — METIO CAMPER VAN DIVISION
One of Japan’s Leading Camper Van Makers
Metio started as a software company in 1997. From 2009, we have made and sold camper vans in our Rakuneru series. We were one of the first in the industry to keep finished vans ready to ship right away. On our own, we deliver about 200 camper vans to customers every year. Counting sales from our partner companies as well, we are one of Japan’s leading camper van makers.
