DRC’S Minister of Mines Suspends Boss Mining SA Operations over Environmental Pollution
In a correspondence dated May 29, 2023, addressed to the Managing Director of Boss Mining SA, the Minister of Mines, Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, notified the mining company of the “temporary suspension” of all its mining activities for a period of 3 months. This measure could be renewed if nothing is done to stop environmental pollution.
“I have been informed through my department about a series of incidents that occurred on your site on the nights of March 21 to 22 and April 9 of this year.
These incidents have caused significant environmental damage and loss of human lives. This situation could have been avoided or at least mitigated if you had conducted an audit of your site’s environmental management system before resuming activities in November 2022.
The audit should have been aimed at adapting the system to current conditions and incorporating all necessary changes into an updated environmental plan,” wrote the Minister of Mines in her letter.
Furthermore, Boss Mining has been operating illegally, as its environmental and social impact study is no longer valid. This means that the company has violated numerous environmental obligations, directly endangering the lives and health of several people, according to the Minister of Mines.
“Therefore, in accordance with Article 570, paragraph 2 of the Mining Regulations, I am suspending all your mining activities for a period of three months, with the possibility of renewal of this measure, until you have implemented the recommendations sent to you by the Director-Head of the Mining Environmental Protection Service. These recommendations were outlined in his letter referenced 201/DPEM/2023 dated May 12, 2023,” decided Antoinette N’Samba.
Additionally, the Secretary General for Mines has been instructed to take all necessary measures to repair the damage suffered by the communities as a result of these incidents.
Boss Mining is a mining company located in Kakanda, the former mining site of GECAMINES in the District of Lubudi, 60 km from the town of Likasi. It specializes in the production of copper cathodes and cobalt concentrates and remains one of the main assets of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). The company’s activities include open pit mining, crushing, upgrading, concentrating, and sorting facility.
Prior to the suspension of Boss Mining’s activities, the Minister had also taken action against Xiang Jiang Mining SARL based in Tshopo in March for similar reasons.
