Republic of Congo Finalizes Study on Development Minerals to Boost Local Economic Growth
The Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mining Industries and Geology, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has convened a steering and review committee to finalize a baseline study on development minerals.
This initiative is part of a €13.1 million capacity-building project aimed at enhancing the management and utilization of these underexploited resources to drive local economic growth.
The study identifies development minerals, such as construction materials and industrial minerals, as crucial to employment generation and economic activity.
This is particularly relevant during the Republic of Congo’s municipalization efforts and ongoing construction boom. The finalized study will serve as a blueprint for formalizing the sector and addressing critical areas such as job creation, safety, and sustainable development.
Ghynel Reagan Frydarius, Director of Small-Scale Mining and Mining Crafts at the Ministry, highlighted the importance of formalization, stating, “This informal sector is a major employer, but formalization is essential to realize its full potential. Robust data will enable us to project and implement a national development program for mining crafts.”
The government is expected to use the study as a foundation to implement policies that strengthen the sector while promoting sustainable practices and maximizing its contribution to the nation’s economic growth.
