The danger of gold mining in the Garamba National Park was discussed in a meeting with the DRC Vice-Minister of Mines
The delegation, composed of the Belgian ambassador to the DRC, Jo Indekeu, and François-Xavier De Donnea, a Belgian State Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Garamba National Park, alerted the ministry to the “anarchic and illegal” development of gold mining in the Garamba National Park in Haut-Uélé.
The delegation showed Godard Motemona the dangers of gold mining around the Garamba National Park. “I came to alert the minister about the anarchic development of their gold mining at the southern boundary of the Garamba National Park. This gold mining activity, which seems to be galloping, has harmful consequences for the environmental quality of the Kibali River and other adjacent areas,” explained the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Garamba National Park.
In order to restore legality and order in the park, the Vice-Minister of Mines, Godard Motemona, promised to dispatch an inspection team from the Ministry of Mines to find appropriate solutions.
Godard Motemona also met with a delegation from the Cobalt Institute to discuss the need for frank and honest engagement among all stakeholders in the cobalt sector. “We discussed the importance of the DRC in the cobalt issue. The reaction of the Congolese authorities is very positive. We sense a real commitment on this issue. We hope to build a win-win partnership,” said Marina Demidova, head of the Cobalt Institute delegation.
With more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s leading producer of this sought-after metal, a key ingredient in rechargeable batteries, electric cars, and mobile phones.
