Constance - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Written by Constance

Zimbabwe Sets Deadline for Local Lithium Production Plans

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Constance

Zimbabwe has issued a directive for lithium miners to submit plans for the in-country production of battery-grade lithium by March 2024, aiming to tap into the increasing demand for this vital mineral in the clean energy sector, announced Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube last week. In a bid to retain control over lithium resources, the country, Africa’s leading lithium producer, imposed a ban on lithium ore exports last year and introduced a 5% export tax on concentrates. Lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage, has emerged as Zimbabwe’s… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper

Gecamines Pursues Enhanced Stake in DRC’s Mineral Trade

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Constance

Congo’s state mining group, Gecamines, is striving to secure rights to purchase copper and cobalt from mines it holds stakes in. This move is part of its strategy to build up its own reserves and engage in the trading of these crucial metals. To achieve this goal, Gecamines seeks to revise certain terms within its joint venture agreements in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as the world’s primary supplier of battery-grade cobalt and the third-largest producer of copper after Peru and Chile. According to Guy Robert Lukama, Gecamines’… Read More Here

International Transport and Logistics

Presidents Biden and Lourenço Strengthen US-Angola Ties

December 4, 2023December 4, 2023 Constance

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. convened with President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola at the White House to explore avenues for bolstering their relationship, identifying future collaborative prospects, and addressing global challenges. Their discussions centered on substantial U.S. economic investments in Angola, notably through the President’s flagship Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) in the Lobito Corridor, amounting to over a billion dollars in U.S. financing committed in the current year. These investments encompass various initiatives, such as backing for more than 180 rural bridges, enhancing digital connectivity… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Exploration News in Brief

Zambia to Launch Nationwide Mineral Mapping Project

December 1, 2023December 4, 2023 Constance

Zambia’s Acting Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Chipoka Mulenga has unveiled a nationwide initiative to comprehensively survey and map the country’s abundant mineral reserves. This strategic effort is aimed at providing the Zambian government with an in-depth understanding of its diverse mineral deposits. Highlighting progress, Mr. Mulenga announced the completion of geological surveys at Mpika district’s Kanyelele Gold Mine, conducted to assess the extent and potential of mineral resources in the area. He noted that the finalization of a detailed report on these findings is underway. Addressing the National Assembly,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Tin

Rome Resources Ventures into DRC’s Tin Assets Through London Partnership

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

Rome Resources, a company actively engaged in tin exploration in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has unveiled its plans to acquire interests in promising tin assets located in North Kivu. This move is anticipated to significantly impact the African tin production landscape, with the arrival of a London-listed company potentially drawing increased investments into the sector. On November 30, Rome Resources made public the signing of a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Pathfinder Minerals, a British company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The memorandum… Read More Here

International Transport and Logistics

Porto do Lobito Union Celebrates Enhanced Working Conditions and Worker Reintegration

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

The Trade Union Committee of Porto do Lobito expressed appreciation for the improvements in working conditions within the company. During the Workers’ Assembly at Casa do Pessoal do Porto do Lobito, marking its formalization’s first anniversary, Ernesto Muabi António, the Union Commission’s first secretary, highlighted the historical reintegration of some previously dismissed workers as a positive example. “While we continue addressing concerns among our associates regarding the company’s social fund, productivity bonus, professional qualifications, and more, we’re actively collaborating with the Administration to resolve these issues,” stated Ernesto. Responding to… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Mining in Zambia

DRC and Zambia urged to formulate robust policies for extraction and beneficiation of critical minerals

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

Joint calls from activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia urge the governments of both nations to develop comprehensive policies regarding the extraction and enrichment of critical minerals, aligning them with industrial and economic transformation. In a combined statement, civil society organizations have issued recommendations to the authorities of Congo and Zambia, emphasizing the immediate need for a targeted skills policy. They stress the importance of training young Congolese and Zambians in vital skills and technology for the evolving industry. In the next five years, both countries… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Oil & Gas Petroleum

DRC Government Urges Oil Operators to Sustain Kinshasa Distribution

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

In a swift response to the city’s petroleum supply concerns, Minister of Hydrocarbons Didier Budimbu convened an urgent meeting on November 29, 2023. The focus: ensuring uninterrupted distribution of petroleum products across Kinshasa. Budimbu rallied industry players, including representatives from the Ministries of Hydrocarbons, Finance, and the Presidency, alongside key companies in the supply chain. The urgency stemmed from the need to prevent speculation, particularly heightened during the ongoing electoral campaign. Clarifying the situation, Budimbu emphasized that the temporary disruption in Kinshasa did not equate to a shortage or storage… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Oil & Gas Petroleum

DRC Petroleum Product Subsidies to Hit $400M Mark in 2023

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would not experience a shortage of stocks of petroleum products although it depends on the international situation. These assurances were given by the Minister of Finance, Nicolas Kazadi, during a press briefing organized on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the initiative of his colleague from Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. According to Nicolas Kazadi, the Congolese Government has already made some shortfall payments to oil companies. Like last year, the cost of subsidizing petroleum products in the Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated at… Read More Here

International

Global Uranium Prices Hit 15-Year High, Surpassing $80 USD per Pound Milestone

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 Constance

Uranium prices have exceeded the US$80 per pound mark for the first time in more than 15 years. On the American stock exchange Nymex, futures contracts for yellowcake, a crude form of uranium, exceeded $80.25 on Monday, November 20, 2023. According to certain specialists, this historic peak comes after months of rising fuel prices, in a global context marked by the return to favor of nuclear power. Supply contracts with utilities responsible for purchasing uranium for nuclear power plants continue to intensify, according to Colin Hamilton, director of commodities research… Read More Here