DRC’s Kasai-Oriental Seeks Funding and Energy Solutions to Unlock Copper Potential
SAEMAPE Calls for More Funding and Energy Investment to Support Copper Development in Kasai-Oriental
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai-Oriental Province faces major challenges in developing its copper potential, with limited financing for exploration activities, artisanal mining formalisation, and energy supply emerging as key concerns.
The Director General of the Service for Assistance and Support of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE), Jean-Paul Kapongo Kadiobo, has called on the Congolese government and the Mining Fund for Future Generations (FOMIN) to provide the necessary resources to support the transition of artisanal miners into small-scale mining operators.
Kapongo said the lack of funding remains one of the biggest obstacles to professionalising artisanal mining.
He stressed that mechanised exploration and the preparation of mining sites are essential to help cooperatives access more productive areas and operate under improved conditions.
He urged authorities to release the 16% share of mining revenues allocated to SAEMAPE under Article 198 of the Mining Code, arguing that the funds would enable the institution to better support mining cooperatives and implement formalisation programmes.
According to Kapongo, the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for mining activities in Kasai-Oriental could help organise the sector and accelerate the transition from informal artisanal mining to structured small-scale operations.
“Artisanal mining has reached a stage where we must move toward small-scale mining. To achieve this, mechanised overburden removal and proper preparation of mining sites are required, but these activities need significant investment,” he said.
Beyond financing, SAEMAPE also highlighted energy supply as a critical requirement for the province’s mining development. Kapongo acknowledged that Kasai-Oriental has access to electricity but said current capacity will not be sufficient to support large-scale mining operations and future mineral processing facilities.
He called on the central government to strengthen energy infrastructure, noting that reliable electricity will be essential if the province is to attract investment and develop local mineral processing capacity.
The push comes as Kasai-Oriental seeks to position itself as an emerging mining destination by unlocking its copper resources and improving local participation in the sector.
For SAEMAPE, successful development of the province’s mining industry will depend on investment in exploration, infrastructure, energy, and support systems that allow artisanal miners and local cooperatives to participate more effectively in the formal economy.
