DRC’s Prime Minister Launches Workshop for Responsible Supply Standards in the Cobalt Sector
Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde inaugurated the validation workshop for the General Company of Cobalt’s (EGC) responsible supply standards on September 28, 2023, at the Espace Roméo golf venue in Kinshasa Gombe.
The workshop aims to refine the EGC responsible sourcing standards (‘EGC Standards’) developed and approved by the EGC Technical Committee, aligning with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) laws and standards set by ARECOMS, the Small Scale Mining Assistance and Supervision Service (SAEMAPE), and the Center of Expertise, Evaluation, and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Mineral Substances (CEEC).
During his opening speech, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde expressed his satisfaction with the workshop’s launch, emphasizing its importance in advancing the artisanal exploitation of strategic minerals in the DRC.
He noted that this initiative aligns with the government’s goals of promoting direct employment, improving local communities’ living conditions, and reducing poverty in areas where mining resources are extracted.
The government also aims to expedite the cleanup of the artisanal cobalt sector, focusing on standardization efforts that comply with international norms, including those of the OECD.
Prime Minister Sama Lukonde emphasized the need for final adjustments and efficient implementation practices to make artisanal mineral exploitation a strategic tool for the country’s economic policy.
The General Company of Cobalt (EGC) is a subsidiary of GECAMINES and was established in 2019 with a mandate to hold a cobalt purchasing monopoly for artisanal mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
