DRC Copper Production Increased by 15.9% in 2019 as Compared to 2018, Reports the Central Bank of Congo

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 arnbethnic

Figured at 1,420.4 thousand tonnes, copper production in the Democratic Republic of Congo increased by 15.9% in 2019 compared to 2018, informs the annual report of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC) on the progress economic activities of the year 2019.

This document indicates that Gécamines’ share of production represented 1.5% in 2019, reaching 21.2 thousand tonnes, an annual increase of 15.2%.

In its report, the Central Bank of Congo justifies this development by the increase in investments which have enabled the modernization of the electrolysis room of the Shituru metallurgical plants and the development of the operational units of the Kamfundwa and Kamatanda mining sector, with the objective of producing 40,000 tonnes of copper per year.

The bulk of production, 88.5%, was provided by other companies. Their production stood at 1,399.2 thousand tons in 2019, registering an increase of 15.9% compared to 2018.

Also, this development resulted from the increase in the installed capacity of some companies in the sector and
the entry into the production phase of others.

For the same period, the BCC notes that the production volume of Cobalt contracted by 28.7%, settling at 78.0 thousand tonnes in 2019, due in particular to the slump in world demand and the the cessation of the activities of a large local company.

For its part, Gécamines produced only 0.2 thousand tons, a decrease of 27.3% compared to 2018. The production of other companies, which had reached 109.2 thousand tons in 2018, came out at 77.8 thousand tons.

After posting a drop of 91.5% in 2018, Zinc production improved by 53.6% in 2019, notably standing at 1.6 thousand tonnes. This performance resulted in particular from the commissioning of a large production unit in Lualaba.

For this period, the production of Diamond has again recorded a regression, notes the BCC.

According to the data provided by the Issuing Institute, after the 19.9% drop in 2018, diamond production contracted again by 14.6% in 2019.

This situation is due in particular to the decline in its demand on the world market.

In addition, the discontent of artisanal producers in one of the production areas also disrupted the exploitation of this product.

Finally, in 2019, gold production fell by 5.8%, standing at 34,657.4 kg after growth of 16.4% a year earlier. This decrease is attributable in particular to the suspension of activities in four subsidiaries of a major gold mining company in the country for security reasons.

The Central Bank of Congo reports that during 2019, economic activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo was marked mainly by the slowdown in economic growth. A slowdown explained, on the one hand, by the sluggishness of the international economic environment attested, among other things, by the weakness of international trade and, on the other hand, because of the uncertainty resulting from the late installation of the Government as well as the cessation of production by certain companies operating in the mining sector.