Artisanal mining - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

DRC Urged to Formalize and Protect Artisanal Mining as Sector Faces Growing Challenges 1

The management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) took center stage during the 2025 edition of DRC Mining Week, held from June 11 to 14 at the Karavia Hotel in Lubumbashi. Key industry stakeholders, including government officials and mining operators, discussed pressing issues facing the ASM sector, which remains a vital source of livelihood for many Congolese citizens. Jean-Paul Kapongo Kadiobo, Director General of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Assistance and Support Service (SAEMAPE), revealed that his agency had identified at least 1,409 mining cooperatives operating across the Democratic Republic… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Regional conflict

Armed Presence Disrupts Artisanal Mining in Walikale

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025 Constance

Artisanal mining operations in Walikale territory, North Kivu, are facing serious disruptions due to the involvement of soldiers and members of the Wazalendo militia, despite clear prohibitions under the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining code. Civil society groups and traditional chiefs have raised concerns over the growing presence of armed actors at mining sites, particularly in the Utunda group of the Wanianga sector. These groups report that soldiers and militias are not just providing protection—they are actively participating in the artisanal extraction of gold and cassiterite by digging wells and… Read More Here

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Artisanal Cobalt Mining in the DRC Shrinks to Record Low Amid Industrial Surge and Price Pressures

May 18, 2025May 18, 2025 Constance

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), artisanal cobalt mining—a sector that has historically contributed between 10% and 30% of national output—is facing a sharp decline. According to the Cobalt Institute’s annual report released on May 14, 2025, artisanal mining accounted for just 2% of the country’s cobalt production in 2024. This marks a historically low level of contribution from small-scale miners, sharply contrasting with previous years. “In 2018, when cobalt prices peaked above USD 40 per pound, artisanal miners represented around 10% of the DRC’s output,” the report states.… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Cobalt

FEC Challenges DGDA Crackdown on Artisanal Cobalt Exports in Lualaba

May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 Constance

In Lualaba province, the Business Federation of Congo (Fédération des Entreprises du Congo — FEC) is contesting recent enforcement actions by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGDA), calling them “irregular” and potentially harmful to the province’s investment climate. In a letter dated May 5, 2025, addressed to DGDA Director General Bernard Kabese Musangu, FEC’s provincial president, Germain Pungwe Mabwe, criticized the DGDA’s decision to open proceedings against member companies involved in the processing and export of cobalt sourced from artisanal mining. These companies have received official statements of… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

Deadly Rockfalls Highlight Dangers in DRC’s Artisanal Mining Sector

May 11, 2025May 11, 2025 Constance

Rockfalls at artisanal mining sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are becoming increasingly frequent, particularly in the conflict-affected eastern provinces. The latest tragedy occurred on Saturday, May 2, 2025, when seven artisanal gold miners—all from the same family—were killed in a collapse at the G7 mining site in Mapale village, Lugushwa, Mwenga territory. The incident prompted immediate concern from local civil society, which urged the Assistance and Support Service for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (SAEMAPE) to strengthen its oversight efforts on the ground. Speaking to Deskeco on Tuesday,… Read More Here

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DRC Gold Exports Reach $1.5 Billion in 2024 Despite Decline in Artisanal Mining

March 26, 2025March 26, 2025 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) exported a total of 27.9 tonnes of gold in 2024, generating approximately $1.5 billion in revenue, according to the annual report from the Technical Unit for Coordination and Mining Planning of the Ministry of Mines. Kibali Gold was the leading contributor, accounting for more than 26 tonnes of gold worth over $1.3 billion. In contrast, MCCR exported only 102.92 kg, generating an estimated $7.6 million in revenue, while Kimia Mining exported 5.72 kg, yielding $496,589. Kibali Gold remains the dominant force in the DRC’s… Read More Here

Gold Artisanal mining Mining safety

Mali Bans Small-Scale Gold Mining Permits for Foreigners Amid Safety Concerns

March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 Constance

Mali has halted the issuance of small-scale gold mining permits to foreign nationals following a series of fatal mining accidents. Interim President Assimi Goïta has directed the government to implement stricter measures to prevent human and environmental disasters, Minister of Security and Civil Protection General Daoud Aly Mohamedinne announced on Wednesday. The new measures include: The crackdown follows a tragic mine collapse in western Mali last month, which claimed the lives of at least 49 people, many of them women. The accident occurred in an open-pit site where individuals were… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

Justicia ASBL Exposes Mafia-Led Illegal Mining in DRC and Collusion with Republican Guard

February 26, 2025February 26, 2025 Constance

The Justicia ASBL, an organization dedicated to human rights, humanitarian law, and development, has condemned the illegal invasion of mining concessions and the plundering of Congolese minerals by organized mafia networks involving Lebanese and Chinese expatriates, allegedly operating in collusion with elements of the Republican Guard (GR) in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces. Justicia ASBL specifically highlights the Menda mining site, owned by Boss Mining, a subsidiary of the ERG Group, which complies with Congolese mining tax regulations yet remains a victim of illegal mining operations. The organization reports that Republican… Read More Here

International Artisanal mining

Ghana Faces Billion-Dollar Challenge to Reclaim Land Devastated by Illegal Mining

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 Constance

Ghana requires billions of dollars to restore vast stretches of degraded land and polluted water bodies caused by years of illegal mining. Professor Nana Browne Klutse, Acting CEO of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), described the situation as an emergency and urged development partners to support the country’s reclamation efforts. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, Prof. Klutse revealed that a World Bank-funded pilot project had facilitated some land restoration. However, scaling up these efforts requires additional funding. “We have been approached by companies willing to assist with… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

Civil Society Condemns Large-Scale Illegal Mining by Chinese Firms in Ituri

February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 Constance

Civil society in Ituri province, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has condemned the large-scale illegal exploitation of minerals by Chinese companies operating in Mambasa territory. In an interview on Monday, February 3, 2025, Dieudonné Lossa Dhekana, a civil society coordinator, criticized the illicit activities and highlighted the violation of Congolese mining laws. According to Dhekana, these Chinese firms exploit minerals through cooperatives—an approach that contradicts Congolese law, which prohibits foreign entities from operating through such structures. He expressed concern over the scale of the exploitation and the lack of… Read More Here