Félix Tshisekedi to ”rebalance” contracts with mining companies
Opening the 2021 edition of DRC-Africa Business Forum this Wednesday at the Palais du Peuple, Félix Tshisekedi returned to the various reforms launched or to be launched in several sectors. He praised the regulatory efforts in certain areas such as water and energy.
“The Minister of Finance spoke to us earlier about the reforms that are being undertaken in the energy sector, in particular water and electricity, by establishing regulatory authorities that will promote liberalization of the sector because we believe of course, it is only by going in this direction that we will generate more possibilities for our country, create jobs and therefore wealth, and allow the country to stabilize and attract more investors ”, he added. he said responding to a question from the moderator.
He returned once again to the news of the mining sector: “Still going in this direction, I have taken measures for the moment in the mining sector, which aims to rebalance things. Some have spoken of revisiting mining companies’ contracts, I would say rebalancing ”.
And to add:
“The simple goal is to get investors, as I said earlier, to be comfortable because if you are in a country considered to be predatory, I fear that your investments are not safe. And so it is important to rebalance things, in a context as I said earlier, I described it as “win – win” in order to allow everyone: investors and Congolese partners to be satisfied with this. mode of collaboration and to be able to all together derive advantages and benefits from these partnerships ”.
On November 18, Félix Tshisekedi suggested that the government take certain measures. Thus, several exploration permits for mining and / or quarry rights will have to be suspended until the total and urgent cleaning up of the mining cadastral file. This recommendation was formulated by the Head of State following the presentation by Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi of the detailed report on the illegal exploitation of mineral resources.
A week earlier, there had been talk of the execution of the Sino-Congolese contract. The Head of State reminded the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, of the urgency, according to him, to set up a joint Sino-Congolese commission which will look into all the subjects of common interest. For Félix Tshisekedi, this will allow “the execution of contracts to be carried out in a mutual win-win” contract.
