Civil society denounces the lifting of the suspension of certain Chinese mining companies in Mwenga- DRC
The member organizations of the Mining and Hydrocarbons Thematic Working Group of civil society in South Kivu are indignant at the lifting of the measure suspending the activities of certain mining companies, in particular Oriental Resources Congo (ORC), active in the territory of Mwenga without respecting the defined clauses.
In a statement signed this Thursday, July 7, 16 organizations deplore in particular the fact that the restrictions are lifted without a parliamentary inquiry being carried out.
“The absence of the real nature of the exploitation by this company hidden under the label of artisanal mining, the failure to implement the recommendations accompanied by the reports of the parliamentary missions carried out in the field, the absence of sanctions to restore the State and the communities in their rights in accordance with the provisions of the mining code and regulations”, say these organizations.
For these organizations, the lifting of these measures does not even respect the specifications of the authorities but also without guarantee to ensure the traceability of production statistics.
“Has the provincial authority sufficiently assessed the matter under consideration before lifting the suspension? What is the true identity of this company as well as the nature of its operation? How will the communities be restored to their rights and what Are the repair mechanisms in place? What are the guarantees to ensure traceability and control production statistics?”, insist these organizations.
For civil society, compliance with mining standards and regulations is necessary before this suspension measure is lifted.
” To the governor, to suspend his decision to open the activities of the ORC while awaiting the publication of the approval of the company by the national ministry of mines as well as the answers to the claims of the communities affected formerly by the illicit exploitation of the minerals in Mwenga And to the company ORC: to first repair the damage caused to communities and the environment by its illicit exploitation of minerals in Mwenga To comply with the standards and requirements of the code and mining regulations in force in the implementation of its mining project and in its relations with the communities but also to respect the traceability and publication of production statistics”, note these organizations.
On August 20, 2021, 6 Chinese companies were suspended by the provincial government of South Kivu for illegal exploitation of minerals, non-compliance with community specifications and non-compliance with mining standards and regulations in the DRC.
