Makutano 2020: “We do not benefit from Congo’s mineral wealth” (Sama Lukonde)
The Director General of Gécamines, Sama Lukondei, spoke on the major issue related to the mineral wealth of the DRC, in the middle of the 6th edition of the Makutano Forum which takes place this Thursday, December 10 at the Pullman hotel in Kinshasa. This, during a program hosted by Alain Foka, focused on the theme: “Who benefits from the mineral wealth of the Congo?
For Sama Lukonde, the Congolese do not fully benefit from their wealth for lack of laws. Bad legislation is costing the country several millions.
“We do not benefit from the mineral wealth of Congo because the laws, which are the instruments by which we should benefit are not yet in place. Take for example cobalt. We only have 3% of those who transform cobalt In the DRC. Moreover, cobalt was only proclaimed as a strategic mineral in the DRC in 2018. Since all this time, we have lost a lot of money, “said Sama Lukonde.
On the decline in Gécamines production, DG Sama Lukonde believes that Générale des quarries and mines must adapt to the new mineral structures.
“We are in the midst of a transformation which began in 2015 to bring us to be productive. Gécamines has a production of 3,000 tonnes. There is work that must be done to adapt to new mineral structures,” he said. he says.
He therefore called on the DRC’s partners in the mining sector to respect the country’s laws.
“Gécamines has a leading role to challenge our partners on the laws that have changed. Our partners must adapt and respect our laws,” adds Sama Lukonde.
Renowned business platform, Makutano has been bringing together economic champions of Congo and the sub-region since 2016 as well as decision-makers (heads of state and ministers) to create synergies with high added value and develop business opportunities. and produce collective economic intelligence capable of sustainably transforming the economies of the region.
