Artisanal mining - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Kibali Gold Mines Calls for Stronger Formalization of Artisanal Mining in the DRC

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026 Constance0 comment

DRC Mining Week 2026: Kibali Gold Mines Highlights Need for Formalization and Environmental Control in Artisanal Mining Sector The DRC Mining Week 2026 officially opened on Wednesday at the Karavia Hotel in Lubumbashi, bringing together government officials, mining companies, and industry stakeholders to discuss sustainable development of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s extractive sector. During a panel discussion focused on artisanal and small-scale mining, Kibali Gold Mines Head of Social Affairs, Le Franc Basima, outlined the key challenges facing the sub-sector, emphasizing that formalization remains the most critical issue. He… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Gold

UK Firm Signs Long-Term Deal to Expand Traceable Artisanal Gold Exports from Eastern DRC

June 14, 2026June 14, 2026 Constance0 comment

UK-Based SigraFi Partners with PeaceGold to Boost Traceable Artisanal Gold Exports from Eastern DRC A UK-based responsible gold sourcing company has signed a long-term supply and financing agreement aimed at expanding traceable artisanal gold exports from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in a move seen as a major boost for efforts to formalise the region’s mining sector. SigraFi Ltd announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with PeaceGold Trading Company Ltd to establish a framework for the supply of fully traceable gold doré sourced from cooperative-based artisanal… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

DRC Mines Minister Louis Watum Launches New Social Protection Scheme for Artisanal Miners’ Cooperatives

June 14, 2026June 14, 2026 Constance0 comment

DRC Introduces New Insurance and Universal Health Coverage Program for Artisanal Miners The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a new social protection programme for artisanal mining operators organised in cooperatives, marking a major step toward improving welfare and safety standards in the country’s informal mining sector. The initiative was introduced by Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba through Ministerial Decree No. 00278/CAB.MIN/MINES/01/2026, which establishes and regulates a new insurance scheme known as “Group Protection,” alongside universal health coverage for artisanal miners. The reform is designed to strengthen social… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

JUSTICIA Asbl Calls for Stronger Action Against Alleged Illegal Mining on Metalkol Concession in Lualaba

June 11, 2026June 11, 2026 Constance0 comment

DRC NGO Urges Swift Prosecution Over Alleged Illegal Mining on Metalkol SA Concession in Lualaba The NGO JUSTICIA Asbl has urged Congolese authorities to maintain and intensify judicial and administrative proceedings against individuals and groups accused of illegal mining activities on part of the Metalkol SA concession in Lualaba province. In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Kinshasa, the human rights and governance organization welcomed what it described as the dismantling of a “mafia-like network” allegedly operating under the guise of a dredging operation on the Musonoi… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

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

June 5, 2026June 5, 2026 Constance0 comment

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 Constance

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

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Economy Gold

DRC Losing $7.5 Billion Annually to Illegal Artisanal Gold Exports

May 25, 2026May 25, 2026 Constance

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