Mining in DRC - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

President Tshisekedi Announces Urgent Measures to Address Eastern DRC Security Crisis 1

In a late-night speech on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi outlined five urgent measures to address the escalating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): President Tshisekedi also paid tribute to the bravery of the FARDC and Wazalendo soldiers. “Your courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment inspire and unite the people of this nation. The Republic will never abandon you, and your sacrifices will never be forgotten. You represent the honor of the Congolese nation,” he declared. In closing, he reassured all Congolese citizens, both at… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining

DRC Minister of Mines Meets with Delegation to Address Illicit Mining Challenges in South Kivu

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025 Constance

The Minister of Mines recently met with a delegation led by Mr. Davide Marcheselli, an Italian priest based in Kitutu, South Kivu. The delegation, representing the Association for the Defense of Victims of Mining Expropriations (ADVEM), highlighted the challenges faced by local communities due to illicit and illegal mining, particularly gold extraction. Mr. Marcheselli, along with members of civil society and the Catholic and Protestant Churches of Congo, emphasized the severity of the situation in the Mwenga territory. He noted that many companies operating in the region are not legally… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Cobalt

557 Children Freed from Cobalt Mines in Haut-Katanga Reintegrated into Society

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025 Constance

A total of 557 children previously working in the cobalt mines at the Pumpe quarry in Kambove, Haut-Katanga province, have been successfully reintegrated into society. Joseph N’sambi Bulanda, the provincial Minister of Health and president of the monitoring committee for the PABEA cobalt project in Haut-Katanga, shared that non-formal education is also being integrated into this initiative. “We are collaborating with the village chief to make this happen,” he stated during his visit to the reintegration center in Kyembe village. The children have been placed at the Mwera 1 Institute,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Regional conflict

Marine Le Pen Accuses EU of Complicity in Rwanda’s Exploitation of DRC’s Minerals

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025 Constance

Marine Le Pen, President of the National Rally group in the French National Assembly, sharply criticized the European Union (EU) in a recent interview, accusing it of being complicit in the plundering of minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via Rwanda. Le Pen claimed, “If the EU were truly committed to ethics, it would cease to be the recipient of the plunder that Rwanda is carrying out against the DRC. Rwanda is looting valuable raw materials, including rare minerals that belong to the Congolese people, and selling them… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Angola Electricity

Congo-DRC-Angola Power Line Set for 2025 Launch

February 2, 2025February 2, 2025 Constance

The European Union (EU) will commission a 1,400 kV power transmission project in 2025, linking the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Angola. Known as the Boucle de l’Amitié Énergétique, this initiative aims to address chronic electricity shortages, enhance regional energy security, and support economic development. Electricity access in the Republic of Congo remains limited, with only 68% of urban areas and 12% of rural areas connected to the grid. The country’s primary power source, the Centrale Électrique du Congo in Pointe-Noire, is currently facing reduced… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt

Cobalt Oversupply Challenges Market Despite Long-Term Growth Potential

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 Constance

The cobalt market is grappling with a significant oversupply, driven by unprecedented production levels, as demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries grows more slowly than anticipated. While the market faces short-term challenges, the long-term outlook for cobalt remains closely tied to advances in battery technology and the global transition to renewable energy. Cobalt prices have dropped to their lowest levels since 2016, largely due to an oversupplied market and weak demand growth. As the global supply chain struggles with excess inventory, prices have seen a dramatic decline, underscoring the difficulties… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Regional conflict

M23 Rebellion’s Rise Fuels Surge in Illicit Mining Revenues in Eastern Congo

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 Constance

The M23 rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accelerated its illegal mining activities, with analysts predicting an increase in illicit trade of minerals like coltan and gold, which are smuggled through neighboring Rwanda. This week, the Rwanda-backed insurgency made significant strides by capturing Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, marking a pivotal moment in a conflict with government forces that has raised concerns about the potential for regional instability. While Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, analysts have pointed to the M23 group’s reliance on revenue from… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Regional conflict

Alphamin Resources Shares Drop Amid Goma Conflict in DRC

January 31, 2025February 3, 2025 Constance

Alphamin Resources’ stock dropped by 9.4%, its steepest decline in nine years, after Rwanda-backed rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the DRC, where the company’s tin mines are located. Earlier, shares had plunged by as much as a third before recovering. M23 rebels, having advanced rapidly, now patrol Goma, a key trading hub for DRC mineral exports to Rwanda. However, Alphamin’s tin, sourced from mines located about 120 miles west of the city, is sent northeast to Uganda, not through Goma. CEO Maritz Smith declined to… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Corporate News Gold

Kibali Gold Mine Achieves Record Performance and Strengthens Sustainability Efforts

January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 Constance

Barrick Gold Corp, headquartered in Canada, reports that its joint venture Kibali Gold Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo achieved improved performance during the last quarter of 2024, culminating in its highest annual throughput since the mine’s commissioning. This milestone highlights the mine’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and its ability to deliver strong results, according to the company. Sebastiaan Bock, Barrick Africa and Middle East COO, noted, “Despite facing challenges in 2024, including leadership changes and a necessary reset, Kibali has proven itself to be a reliable, low-cost… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Regional conflict

DRC Foreign Minister Urges International Action Against Rwanda’s Support for M23 at UN Security Council

January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 Constance

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, January 27, 2025, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), strongly condemned what she described as a “systematic and coordinated strategy” orchestrated by Rwanda, involving its support for the M23 terrorist group. The escalating violence in eastern DRC, including attacks on civilians and peacekeepers, has prompted global powers to respond, emphasizing the far-reaching geopolitical and economic consequences of the crisis. Russia, represented by Vasily Nebenzia, called for an immediate halt to… Read More Here