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Civil Society Calls for Transparency on Child Labor Statistics in DRC Mining 1 Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Cobalt Copper 

Civil Society Calls for Transparency on Child Labor Statistics in DRC Mining

Constance
During the 19th edition of DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi, Grant Leaity, UNICEF’s representative in the DRC, alarmed attendees with statistics suggesting that around 361,000 children are engaged in copper and cobalt mining in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces. This revelation has prompted Congolese civil society to raise concerns and demand further verification and transparency regarding these figures. In response to UNICEF’s statement, Congolese civil society has expressed reservations about the reported numbers of child laborers in mining sites. They emphasize the need for additional information and rigorous verification of these… Read More Here
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Addresses Security Challenges in North Kivu 2 Mining in DRC Governance Regional conflict 

Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Addresses Security Challenges in North Kivu

Constance
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka convened in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, on the evening of Wednesday, June 26, 2024, where she addressed a gathering of representatives from the active forces following a lengthy Provincial Security Council meeting. In her address, Prime Minister Suminwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to tackle the challenges posed by armed groups and Rwandan aggression through its proxies, such as the M23 rebellion. “I extend my tribute not only to our soldiers… Read More Here
DRC Advances Gulf of Kabuno Gas Degassing Project to Enhance Regional Safety 3 Mining in DRC Oil & Gas 

DRC Advances Gulf of Kabuno Gas Degassing Project to Enhance Regional Safety

Constance
During the 3rd Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Cité de l’Union Africaine, Minister of Hydrocarbons Aimé Molendo Sakombi presented an update on the Gulf of Kabuno degassing project. He reported that the industrial phase has commenced with the installation of three Industrial Stations, marking significant progress towards mitigating the risk of gas explosions in North Kivu and South Kivu. Minister Sakombi noted that the first Industrial Station was successfully installed, with provisional acceptance on September 12, 2023. However, he highlighted two key challenges: delayed… Read More Here
Govt of DRC Advances SDG Acceleration Roadmap 4 Mining in DRC Governance 

Govt of DRC Advances SDG Acceleration Roadmap

Constance
In a pivotal session during the 3rd Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, June 28, 2024, Guylain Nyembo, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Aid Coordination, detailed efforts to finalize the roadmap for accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Led by the Congolese Sustainable Development Observatory, the initiative aims to address bottlenecks hindering SDG implementation effectively and sustainably. Nyembo emphasized that the roadmap targets specific interventions across six key axes to expedite progress towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. The plan,… Read More Here
Félix Tshisekedi Emphasizes Business Climate Reform 5 Mining in DRC Economy Governance 

Félix Tshisekedi Emphasizes Business Climate Reform

Constance
President Félix Tshisekedi underscored the imperative of enhancing the business climate during the second Council of Ministers meeting held on June 21, 2024, at the Cité de l’Union Africaine. He emphasized that improving the business environment is pivotal to public policy reforms aimed at addressing economic operators’ concerns. Acknowledging previous efforts by reform ministries over the past five years, President Tshisekedi noted the challenges persisting due to the slow pace of reform implementation. He referenced the inaugural national business climate barometer and other reports, which highlight ongoing difficulties faced by… Read More Here
Cobalt Market in DRC Faces Temporary Slowdown but Long-Term Prospects Remain Strong 6 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

Cobalt Market in DRC Faces Temporary Slowdown but Long-Term Prospects Remain Strong

Constance
Cobalt, a crucial mineral for the energy transition, experienced a temporary slowdown in 2023, according to a new report from the Cobalt Institute. However, the long-term outlook remains promising due to rising demand for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. The report highlights that battery-related applications accounted for 73% of cobalt demand, with electric vehicles alone driving 96% of the growth in 2023. Despite market disruptions and fluctuations, the industry has shown remarkable adaptability and endurance, says Dinah McLeod, Managing Director of the Cobalt Institute. In 2023, global cobalt supply increased… Read More Here
DRC Celebrates 64th Independence Anniversary with New Push for "Minerals for Infrastructure" Program 7 Mining in DRC Economy Governance 

DRC Celebrates 64th Independence Anniversary with New Push for “Minerals for Infrastructure” Program

Constance
On June 30, 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) commemorated the 64th anniversary of its independence. To mark the occasion, President Félix Tshisekedi addressed the nation with a significant announcement. In his message, broadcast on public television (RTNC), President Tshisekedi directed the government to expedite the second phase of the extensive “minerals for infrastructure” program starting this year. This ambitious initiative aims to “promote the internal market and create jobs.” Since 2018, the DRC has been engaged in an agreement that exchanges mineral resources for the development of infrastructure,… Read More Here
Major Reduction in Child Labor Achieved in North Kivu Mining Sites 8 Mining in DRC Artisanal mining 

Major Reduction in Child Labor Achieved in North Kivu Mining Sites

Constance
Civil society in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, has expressed satisfaction with the significant reduction in the number of children working in mining sites. Mbule Mandatex, a representative of this civic group, reported that numerous mining operators have been made aware of the strict ban on child labor in mining activities. “We have benefited from the popularization of the mining code, which formally prohibits the presence of children in mining sites. All cooperatives and mining managers are now aware of this, resulting in the rarity of children and pregnant women… Read More Here
Barrick Gold's Missed Opportunities and Future M&A Strategy 9 Gold International 

Barrick Gold’s Missed Opportunities and Future M&A Strategy

Constance
John Thornton, who joined Barrick Gold as a director in 2012, has identified a reluctance in mergers and acquisitions as a major mistake for the company. “Barrick has been, in my view, very slow to say to themselves: the most important thing when you’re buying companies in the mining industry … is just buy it. We have not done that. We have insisted on getting into the weeds, and that has been a mistake.” Thornton recently transitioned from his role as executive chairman of Barrick to a non-executive position after… Read More Here
Vedanta Regains Control of Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia After Court Approval 10 Mining in Zambia Copper Economy 

Vedanta Regains Control of Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia After Court Approval

Constance
Vedanta Resources Ltd. can regain control of the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) project in Zambia following a court-sanctioned plan to settle the mine’s debts. On Friday, a court in Lusaka approved a scheme of arrangement supported by KCM’s creditors, as announced by Zambia’s Mines Minister, Paul Kabuswe, on Facebook. Billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta has been striving to reclaim the significant copper asset since 2019. At that time, KCM was placed into provisional liquidation by the previous government, which accused the owner of misleading about expansion plans and underpaying taxes. To… Read More Here

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