Artisanal mining - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Lualaba Mining Cooperatives Vote in Kolwezi to Strengthen Governance of Artisanal Mining Sector 1

Kolwezi: Mining Cooperatives Elect Representatives to New Artisanal Mining Governance Bodies Mining cooperatives in Lualaba province are heading to the polls this Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Kolwezi to elect their representatives to two newly established bodies under the Ministry of Mines. The announcement was made by the Service for Assistance and Support of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE). In an official statement, SAEMAPE/Lualaba Provincial Director Georges Nyembo Kitungwa invited all cooperatives to participate in the vote, which is aimed at strengthening their role in the governance of the artisanal… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

DRC Suspends Mining Operations in South Kivu Amid Illegal Mining and Security Concerns

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 Constance0 comment

DR Congo Suspends Mining Activities in Mwenga and Shabunda Over Illegal Operations The Congolese government has suspended all mining activities in the territories of Mwenga and Shabunda in South Kivu Province following growing concerns over illegal mining operations and security threats linked to the sector. The decision was announced in a decree signed on May 22, 2026, in Kinshasa by Minister of Mines Louis Kabamba Watum. Under the order, all mining activities in the two territories will remain suspended for a period of three months. According to the Ministry of… Read More Here

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DRC Losing $7.5 Billion Annually to Illegal Artisanal Gold Exports

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 Constance0 comment

DR Congo Faces Massive Gold Smuggling Crisis as Illegal Exports Drain Billions from Economy The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to suffer massive financial losses from the illegal export of artisanal gold, with authorities estimating that nearly 50 tonnes of gold are smuggled out of the country each year. According to DRC Gold Trading SA, the illicit trade is costing the national economy an estimated US$7.5 billion annually. The figures were revealed by the company’s Director General, Joseph M. Kazibaziba, in a video shared on the company’s X account,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

DRC Mines Minister Concludes Eastern Tour with Focus on Reforming Artisanal Mining in Maniema

April 25, 2026April 25, 2026 Constance

DRC Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba Pushes Mining Sector Reforms During Strategic Visit to Maniema Province After visits to the provinces of Ituri and Bas-Uélé, the Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Louis Watum Kabamba, concluded his tour of eastern DRC with a strategic stop in Maniema Province on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The visit forms part of a broader government initiative aimed at transforming the mining sector into a more structured, transparent, and development-oriented pillar of the national economy. During his mission, the minister held extensive… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Governance

DRC Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining in Ituri Amid Major Sector Reform Push

April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 Constance

DRC Launches Major Crackdown on Illegal Gold Mining in Ituri as Government Seizes Equipment and Orders Site Closures The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has intensified enforcement actions against illegal activities in the mining sector, signaling a stricter regulatory approach aimed at restoring order and accountability in the industry. During a field mission in eastern DRC, the Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, ordered the immediate closure of several illegal gold mining sites in the Djalasiga chiefdom, located in Mahagi territory. The operation underscores the government’s determination… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Artisanal mining Copper

New Sustainability Bond Model Aims to Formalize Artisanal Mining in Zambia’s Copper Sector

April 12, 2026April 12, 2026 Constance

Zambia Copper Industry Pilot Launches Stakeholder Prosperity Bond to Integrate Artisanal Miners into Formal Supply Chains A Canada-based advisory firm and a mid-tier Zambian copper producer are preparing to pilot a new sustainability-linked financing instrument designed to integrate artisanal miners into formal mining supply chains. The proposed structure, known as a “stakeholder prosperity bond,” has been developed by advisory firm Veridicor in partnership with Zambia-focused Metalex Commodities. The initiative aims to address long-standing challenges associated with informal artisanal mining, including environmental degradation, revenue leakage, and operational disruption around industrial mining… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Mining safety Safety & Health

DRC Declares Radiological Emergency in Remba T17 Following Artisanal Mining Activity

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 Constance

DRC Government Declares Radiological Emergency in Kolwezi’s Remba T17 Area Amid Public Health Risks The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared a radiological emergency in the Remba T17 area of Kolwezi due to the presence of radioactive materials linked to artisanal mining activities. The announcement was made on March 23, 2026, by Marie-Thérèse Sombo, who is responsible for the country’s nuclear oversight. According to the minister, unregulated exploitation of the site has led to the proven presence of radioactive substances, posing significant risks to public health, national security, and… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

DRC Moves to Reassert Control Over Kakanda Mine After Deadly Landslide

March 22, 2026March 22, 2026 Constance

DRC Government Orders Evacuation of Illegal Miners from Kakanda Following Fatal Landslide The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has initiated decisive steps to regain authority over a contested mining concession in Kakanda, after a tragic landslide claimed the lives of 11 people during the night of March 10–11, 2026. The site, operated by Boss Mining, had been taken over by unauthorized artisanal miners following the suspension of industrial operations. Authorities now aim to restore order, improve safety, and reestablish formal mining activities. Government Launches Evacuation and Relocation Strategy… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Artisanal mining Gold

Zambia Strengthens Sustainable Gold Mining Through Landmark ZCCM-IH and planetGOLD Partnership

March 17, 2026March 17, 2026 Constance

Zambia Advances Mercury-Free Gold Mining with ZCCM-IH and planetGOLD MoU to Formalize Artisanal Sector Zambia has taken a decisive step toward transforming its artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc and the planetGOLD Zambia Project on March 17, 2026. The agreement signals a unified national commitment to promoting responsible, mercury-free gold mining while integrating artisanal miners into the formal economy. It also reflects a broader strategy to ensure that Zambia’s mineral wealth delivers sustainable and… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Artisanal mining New Mining Projects

Zambia to Allocate 8,000 Hectares at Kikonge Gold Site to Over 500 Artisanal Miners in Mufumbwe

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 Constance

Government to Allocate 8,000 Hectares to Artisanal Miners at Kikonge Gold Site The Zambian government is set to allocate about 8,000 hectares of land as mining tenements to more than 500 artisanal miners at the Kikonge Gold Site, in a move aimed at formalising small-scale mining activities and promoting safer operations. Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Billy Chewe, said the land will be distributed to organised mining cooperatives operating in the area. Mr. Chewe explained that each cooperative is expected to… Read More Here