Mining in DRC - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

DRC Anti-Corruption Network Proposes Reductions in Govt Spending

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Constance

The Pan-African Anti-Corruption Network (Unis), a member of the Congo is not for Sale (CNPV) organization, has released a report proposing measures to reduce the cost of governmental institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report, published on Monday, February 24, focuses on cutting unnecessary expenses, particularly those associated with political institutions. Unis recommends the abolition of the Senate, a parliamentary institution comprising 109 senators, the honorary president, and staff, which incurs significant costs to the Congolese state despite its limited and often redundant role in the legislative… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Economy Governance

DRC Prime Minister Seeks WTO Support for Economic Transformation

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Constance

Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka is actively engaging in diplomatic efforts in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of her push to address the crisis in eastern DRC and advocate for stronger sanctions against Rwanda for ongoing atrocities. On the sidelines of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Prime Minister Suminwa met with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss strategies for transforming the Congolese economy and accelerating the country’s development agenda. “The DRC is at a turning point for its development,” Suminwa stated. “We need greater… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Battery Metals Mining in DRC

India Expands Critical Minerals Hunt in Zambia, DRC, and Australia

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Constance

India is actively exploring critical mineral mining in Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Australia to secure key raw materials like lithium, Mines Secretary VL Kantha Rao announced on Thursday. State-owned companies, including Coal India, NMDC, and ONGC Videsh, are involved in mineral exploration in Australia as part of India’s strategy to reduce dependence on imports, particularly for lithium—an essential component in energy transition technologies. India is still developing its lithium processing capabilities, a field currently dominated by China. Meanwhile, the Zambian government has allocated 9,000 km² for… Read More Here

Mining in DRC

French Prosecutors Dismiss DRC’s Conflict Minerals Case Against Apple

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Constance

French prosecutors have closed a case filed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Apple subsidiaries, which accused the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain, according to a document seen by Reuters on Thursday. The DRC filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium in December, alleging that the company sourced tin, tantalum, and tungsten (3T minerals) from conflict zones in Congo and Rwanda. At the time, Apple strongly denied the accusations, stating that its suppliers were explicitly prohibited from using minerals sourced… Read More Here

Mining in DRC

DRC Journalists Trained on Mining Taxation to Enhance Transparency

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

Journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have gained valuable insights into mining taxation, equipping them to advocate for transparent management in the sector. This training, organized by the Oisillons Groupe Association with support from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) under the DISMII project (Maximizing Revenues from the Mining Sector), aims to strengthen journalists’ ability to monitor and influence the mining sector’s revenue management. According to the association’s coordinator, the training’s goal is to empower journalists to play a more significant role in overseeing mining revenues and ensuring transparency. Expert… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Diamond

SACIM Struggles with Diamond Sales Restrictions and Financial Challenges in Kasai-Oriental

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

The Anhui Congo Investment Company (SACIM) in Kasai-Oriental continues to face significant challenges, raising concerns across the region. On February 26, 2025, a SACIM manager revealed to Actualité.cd that the company, which typically produces an average of 300,000 carats of diamonds per month, is encountering difficulties in selling its diamonds due to newly imposed price restrictions. Under the terms of Ministerial Decree No. 00049/CAB.MIN/MINES/01/2022, dated February 22, 2022, SACIM is restricted to selling its diamonds to only four buyers, under the oversight of the Center for Expertise and Certification (CEEC).… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity

DRC’s SNEL Utility Faces $3 Billion Debt Crisis as Restructuring Plan Takes Shape

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL), the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) state-owned power utility, is burdened with a debt exceeding $3 billion—more than three times its 2022 sales, according to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) recent Compact Énergétique National report. The debt is comprised of financial obligations (over 75%), commercial debt (13%), tax liabilities (11%), and social debt (0.3%). Financial debt alone surpasses $2 billion, stemming primarily from mining contracts (42%) and loans from multilateral investment banks (58%). In response, the Congolese government is committed to restructuring SNEL’s commercial and financial… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Regional conflict

DRC President Proposes Mineral Deal for Peace with US and Europe

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

In a bold diplomatic move, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reportedly proposed granting the United States and Europe access to the country’s vast mineral resources, contingent upon their intervention to end the ongoing conflict devastating the nation. On Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Tina Salama urged the US to “directly purchase critical minerals” from the DRC rather than sourcing “looted” and “smuggled” resources through Rwanda. She extended the same request to Europe and other buyers, emphasizing that the DRC is the “rightful owner” of these valuable… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Electricity Hydro power plant

Kasaï-Central’s Mbombo Hydropower Station Construction Begins

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

The highly anticipated Mbombo hydropower station project has officially begun. Construction was launched on February 15, 2025, by Joseph Moïse Kambulu Nkonko, governor of Kasaï-Central province, where the station will be located. The plant, situated on the Lulua River about 9.3 miles (15 km) from downtown Kananga, will have an installed capacity of 10 MW. This project is expected to bring electricity to more people in the region. However, the number of direct and indirect jobs it will create, as well as the total number of beneficiaries, has yet to… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Governance Regional conflict

EU Reassesses MoU with Rwanda Amid Growing DRC Conflict

February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 Constance

On February 24, 2025, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council announced a review of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rwanda, originally signed in February 2024. This decision, made public by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, is part of broader EU efforts to press Rwanda to respect the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kallas, who is also Vice-President of the European Commission, stated, “Consultations on defense issues with Rwanda have been suspended. There is also a political decision to apply sanctions, depending on developments on the… Read More Here