Copper mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Copper mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: Extraction du cuivre en République démocratique du Congo) mainly takes place in the Copper Belt of the southern Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1]

Not all copper deposits contain significant cobalt, but nearly all cobalt in the country is sourced from copper deposits. The DRC produces about 63% of the world's cobalt, with about 80% from industrial copper mines, and the remaining 20% gathered by artisanal mining.[2]

Geology[edit]

The Katanga, or Shaba, copperbelt in the DRC is a belt about 70 kilometres (43 mi) wide and 250 kilometres (160 mi) long between Lubumbashi and Kolwezi formed in rocks of the Katanga Supergroup. There are 72 economic deposits of copper/cobalt and four large mining centers.[3] Taken together, the DRC and Zambian copper belts are the second largest global reserve of copper, about 1/3 the size of the Chilean reserve.[4]

The DRC copper belt includes some of the highest-grade copper deposits in the world. In some reserves the grades are above 5%. The ore also has high grades of cobalt and may hold 34% of the world's cobalt reserves. There are large deposits that have yet to be explored using modern technology, so the size of the reserves may be understated. Demand is growing, led by China.[4]

History[edit]

Prehistoric mines in the Katanga belt have been found at Dikuluwe near Musonoi, Tenke-Fungurume, Kambove, Luishia, Ruashi and Etoile, and at the Naviundo and Luano archaeological sites.[5] Monseigneur de Hemptinne watched Yeke people working at Dikuluwe as late as 1924. They worked in the dry season and stopped when the first rains arrived. The mining camp was near a stream where millet could be planted. Women and children collected malachite from the surface, while men used iron picks to excavate pits and shafts, using fire to crack the rocks when needed. The mines were between 10 metres (33 ft) and 15 metres (49 ft) deep with galleries up to 20 metres (66 ft) long. The ore would be sorted and then taken to a nearby stream for concentration before being smelted.[6]

Commercial mining began in the 1920s, with a forcibly recruited workforce. The Union Minière constantly struggled to prevent recruits fleeing from the mines, sometimes taking refuge in Angola.[7] Workers were mistreated and suffered badly from disease brought on by the working conditions. The lowest death rate at the Panda, Lubumbashi, Kisanga and Musonoi work sites in 1928 was four men per month.[8] Today, mine worker exploitation is still prevalent and instances of slave labor, and especially child labor, are still observed in the mining industry according to the 2014 U.S. Department of Labor's List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.

Between 1970 and 1988 copper metal production was roughly constant at between 400,000 and 500,000 tonnes. Production then dropped steeply to under 50,000 tonnes annually between 1992 and 2001. Since then, production has steadily grown, reaching about 300,000 tonnes in 2008.[4]

In 2005, proceeds from an oil sale to Glencore, an Anglo–Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company, were seized as fraudulent gains as part of an investigation into corruption in the country (Allen-Mills 17 June 2008).[9] In the course of the Congo events, Nikanor was merged into Katanga in late 2007 in a transaction valued at US$3.3 billion.[10]

The government of the DRC began to review about 60 mining contracts in 2008, and started to release their findings to the mining companies in February 2008. For example, TEAL, a subsidiary of African Rainbow Minerals, was asked by letter to submit their feasibility study for their Kalumines property to identify the real contribution of each of the parties "in order to achieve a fair attribution of shares". The letter said the feasibility study should present a planning of "realisation of social actions with a visible impact". It also said that the state-owned Gécamines should actively participate in the daily management of the operation.[11]

In August 2009, the DRC government revoked First Quantum Minerals' (FQM) license to operate the Kolwezi tailings project, alleging "unreasonable behaviour" in negotiations to change the contract.[12] First Quantum had spent $750 million on acquiring and developing the property. First Quantum took out an action against the DRC government in the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration.[13] In May 2010 a Congolese court ruled that FQM's Lonshi and Frontier copper mines had been awarded illegally and that they should revert to state-owned Sodimico.[14] According to FQM the ruling was due to FQM's decision to contest the expropriation of their Kolwezi project, which was later sold to the Kazakh mining company Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation.[15]

Companies[edit]

The largest shareholders in most copper mines in the DRC are foreign corporations, with the Congolese state-owned Gécamines holding a minority stake in most projects. In recent years, many Chinese companies have become major holders in various copper mines in the DRC.

China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group[edit]

Main article: China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group

China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (CNMC) is the majority owner of the Deziwa mine and Ecaille C mine.

China Railway[edit]

Main article: China Railway

China Railway, or its subsidiary, China Overseas Engineering Group, is a partner in the Luishia mine, the Kalumbwe Myunga mine, and the Sicomines venture at Dikuluwe Mine and Mashamba West.

CMOC Group Limited[edit]

Main article: CMOC Group Limited

CMOC Group Limited, formerly known as China Molybdenum, entered the DRC in 2016 with the purchase of the Tenke Fungurume Mine. It also purchased the Kisanfu mine which is under construction. Both mines were formerly held by Freeport-McMoRan.

Gécamines[edit]

Main article: Gécamines

Gécamines (La Générale des Carrières et des Mines), is a state-owned mining company in the DRC. Its principal products are copper (which often accounted for 50% of export earnings), cobalt and zinc.[16] Copper mines in which Gécamines has a major interest include Kambove, Kipushi and Kolwezi. Gécamines also owns a copper smelter at Lubumbashi and a hydrometallurgical plant at Shituru.[17]

The Industrial Development and Mining Corporation of Zaire (Société de développement industriel et minier du Zaire - SODIMIZA) is an operating company for copper and its derivatives in Katanga. The company also operates cobalt and zinc. It was created in 1967 and acquired by Gécamines in 1987.

The Kababankola Mining Company (KMC) is a joint-venture between Gécamines (20%) and Tremalt (80%) with the objective of exploiting Copper and cobalt.[18]

Glencore[edit]

Main article: Glencore

The Swiss company Glencore owns a number of large copper mines, particularly after acquiring Katanga Mining as a wholly owned subsidiary. Currently, Glencore owns majority stakes in Kamoto Copper Company SARL (KCC) and DRC Copper and Cobalt Project SARL (DCC), which run several copper/cobalt mines, as well as a Mutanda Mining SARL, which runs the Mutanda Mine.

Katanga Mining produces copper and cobalt at the Kamoto Mine, which also includes the Kamoto concentrator, the Luilu metallurgical plant, the Kamoto underground mine and two oxide open pit resources in the Kolwezi district. A joint venture of Katanga Mining (75%) and Gécamines (25%) began mining Tilwezembe, an open-pit copper and cobalt mine, in 2007.[19] As of 2011 Katanga Mining was 74.8% owned by Glencore.[20]

Jinchuan Group[edit]

Main article: Jinchuan Group

Metorex, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has assets in the DRC that include the existing Kinsenda Mine, the new Ruashi copper and cobalt mine, and the Dilala East and Lubembe deposit greenfields sites.[21]

Copper Resources Corporation is a subsidiary of Meterox. As of November 2011 it held a 92.5% interest in the Hinoba-an Porphyry Copper project in the Philippines, and a 75% interest in Miniere de Musoshi et Kinsenda (MMK).[22] MMK in turn owns the flooded Kinsenda and Musoshi copper mines in Katanga. MMK was formerly a subsidiary of Forrest Group. As of 30 November 2005 it became a subsidiary of Copper Resources Corporation.[23] MMK also holds the Lubembe high-grade deposit.[22]

Jinchuan Group acquired Metorex in 2012, making it a fully owned subsidiary.

Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt[edit]

Main article: Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt

Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt holds stakes in the Luiswishi mine and Kolwezi copper mine.

Other[edit]

Afrimines Resources SPRL, based in Democratic Republic of the Congo, owns various mining resources.[24] In May 2008 Tiger Resources announced that it had secured the rights to explore several new and highly prospective tenements in Katanga in partnership with Afrimines Resources and Katanga Minerals Holdings.[25]

The Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has a significant presence, particularly with the Mukondo Mine asset, since its takeover of the Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEX).[26]

Mines[edit]

Copper mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are concentrated in the Copperbelt, in the provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba, both part of the historical province of Katanga until 2015. The ownership of most mines is structured as a joint venture split between a foreign company and the DRC state-controlled miners Gécamines and Sodimico. Mines currently active in green, mines soon opening in blue, mines suspended in red.

Name Territory Coordinates Ownership Annual capacity
Deziwa mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°47′38″S 25°46′55″E / 10.794°S 25.782°E / -10.794; 25.782 Société Miniere De Deziwa (Somidez)
Dikuluwe Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°44′41″S 25°21′45″E / 10.744608°S 25.362625°E / -10.744608; 25.362625 Sino-Congolaises des Mines (Sicomines) Copper: 155,630 tons Cobalt: 886 tons (2020)[27]
Kalakundi Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°37′23″S 25°53′59″E / 10.623155°S 25.899839°E / -10.623155; 25.899839 Swanmines
Kalumbwe Myunga mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°46′37″S 25°55′08″E / 10.777°S 25.919°E / -10.777; 25.919 Minière de Kalumbwe Myunga (MKM)
Kamoa-Kakula mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°52′59″S 25°11′53″E / 10.883°S 25.198°E / -10.883; 25.198 Kamoa Copper 105,884 tonnes copper (2021)[28]
Kamoto Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°42′53″S 25°23′08″E / 10.714798°S 25.385542°E / -10.714798; 25.385542 Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) 46,000 tonnes copper and 4,000 tonnes cobalt (2008).[29]
Kananga Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°39′59″S 25°27′59″E / 10.666512°S 25.466394°E / -10.666512; 25.466394 DRC Copper and Cobalt Project SARL Suspended
Kisanfu mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°46′44″S 25°55′41″E / 10.779°S 25.928°E / -10.779; 25.928 China Molybdenum (71.25%)
CATL (23.75%)
DRC government (5%)[30] 		Planned opening in 2023[31]
Kolwezi copper mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°43′37″S 25°27′25″E / 10.727°S 25.457°E / -10.727; 25.457 Compagnie Minière de Musonoï (COMMUS) Active[32][33][34]
Kolwezi tailings project Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°42′42″S 25°23′48″E / 10.711551°S 25.396614°E / -10.711551; 25.396614 Compagnie de Traitement des Rejets de Kingamyambo (Metalkol)
KOV mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°42′48″S 25°25′07″E / 10.7134°S 25.4185°E / -10.7134; 25.4185 Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) ?
Mashamba East Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°44′35″S 25°23′33″E / 10.742922°S 25.392537°E / -10.742922; 25.392537 Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) ?
Musonoi mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°42′39″S 25°23′56″E / 10.710876°S 25.399017°E / -10.710876; 25.399017 Ruashi Mining Planned opening in 2023.
Mutanda Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°47′09″S 25°48′30″E / 10.7858°S 25.8082°E / -10.7858; 25.8082 Mutanda Mining (MUMI) Suspended since 2019, planned reopening in 2022
Mutoshi Mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°40′40″S 25°32′07″E / 10.677815°S 25.535316°E / -10.677815; 25.535316 Chemaf (Shalina Resources) Suspended since 2020, planned reopening in 2023.[35]
Shabara mine Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°44′10″S 25°51′22″E / 10.736°S 25.856°E / -10.736; 25.856 Artisanal mining (de facto)
Tilwezembe Mutshatasha-Kolwezi 10°47′58″S 25°41′32″E / 10.799405°S 25.692333°E / -10.799405; 25.692333 DRC Copper and Cobalt Project SARL Suspended since 2008.[36]
Kabolela Mine Lubudi 10°50′48″S 26°28′42″E / 10.84667°S 26.47833°E / -10.84667; 26.47833 Abandoned: Worked for cobalt during the 1930s[37]
Kakanda deposit Lubudi 10°44′8″S 26°24′33″E / 10.73556°S 26.40917°E / -10.73556; 26.40917 Boss Mining Abandoned.[37]
Mukondo Mine Lubudi 10°43′29″S 26°20′47″E / 10.724601°S 26.346459°E / -10.724601; 26.346459 Boss Mining Suspended since 2019
Tenke Fungurume mine Lubudi 10°34′06″S 26°11′44″E / 10.568411°S 26.195633°E / -10.568411; 26.195633 Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) 209,120 tonnes copper and 18,501 tonnes cobalt (2021)[38]
Kamatanda Kambove 10°57′11″S 26°46′22″E / 10.953004°S 26.772802°E / -10.953004; 26.772802 Gécamines
Kamfundwa Mine Kambove 10°48′54″S 26°35′19″E / 10.81500°S 26.58861°E / -10.81500; 26.58861 Gécamines[29] 400,000 tonnes copper in ore and 48,000 tonnes cobalt in ore (2008).[29]
Kamoya Central Kambove Gécamines[29] 79,000 tonnes copper in ore and 7,000 tonnes cobalt in ore (2008).[29]
Kamoya South Kambove Gécamines[29] 36,000 tonnes copper in ore and 11,000 tonnes cobalt in ore (2008).[29]
Kipoi Mine Kambove 11°08′33″S 27°11′12″E / 11.142593°S 27.186742°E / -11.142593; 27.186742 Société d'Exploitation de Kipoi (SEK) 100,000 tonnes of copper metal (target)
Luishia mine Kambove 11°10′07″S 27°00′31″E / 11.168676°S 27.008686°E / -11.168676; 27.008686 Compagnie Minière de Luisha (COMILU)
Luisha south Kambove Luisha Mining Enterprises (LME)
  • Excellen Minerals SARL
Lupoto Mine Kambove 11°29′17″S 27°10′09″E / 11.488099°S 27.169189°E / -11.488099; 27.169189 SASE Mining SARL Prospect
M'sesa Mine Kambove 10°50′59″S 26°36′23″E / 10.84972°S 26.60639°E / -10.84972; 26.60639 Abandoned during the 1970s[37]
Mabende Mine Kambove 11°08′17″S 27°27′11″E / 11.138°S 27.453°E / -11.138; 27.453 CNMC Huachin Mabende Mining
Shangolowe Kambove 10°48′28″S 26°34′12″E / 10.807888°S 26.570123°E / -10.807888; 26.570123 Gécamines[29] N/A
Shituru Kambove 11°00′46″S 26°45′03″E / 11.012645°S 26.750765°E / -11.012645; 26.750765 Pengxin Mining 38,000 tonnes of LME grade cathode copper (potential).
Kalumines Kipushi 11°36′02″S 27°16′32″E / 11.600492°S 27.275555°E / -11.600492; 27.275555 Gecamines 10,000 tonnes copper (2008).[29]
Kinsevere Kipushi 11°21′48″S 27°33′50″E / 11.363461°S 27.564011°E / -11.363461; 27.564011 Société Minière de Kinsevere 60,000 tons of copper (estimate)
Kipushi Mine Kipushi 11°46′13″S 27°14′11″E / 11.770234°S 27.236438°E / -11.770234; 27.236438 Kipushi Corporation (KICO) Abandoned
Luiswishi mine Kipushi 11°30′55″S 27°26′21″E / 11.515287°S 27.439299°E / -11.515287; 27.439299 Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) 12,000 tons copper, 4,000 tons of cobalt
Musoshi Mine Kipushi 12°15′57″S 27°42′49″E / 12.26583°S 27.71361°E / -12.26583; 27.71361 Société de développement industriel et minier du Congo (SODIMICO) Suspended
Etoile Mine Lubumbashi 11°37′56″S 27°34′49″E / 11.632134°S 27.580168°E / -11.632134; 27.580168 Chemaf (Shalina Resources) 11,353 tonnes copper (2008)
Ruashi Mine Lubumbashi 11°37′00″S 27°33′00″E / 11.61667°S 27.55°E / -11.61667; 27.55 Ruashi Mining 10,000 tonnes copper and 1,000 tonnes of Cobalt (2008).[29]
Frontier Mine Sakania 12°44′34″S 28°29′24″E / 12.742828°S 28.489952°E / -12.742828; 28.489952 Eurasian Resources Group 84,000 tonnes copper (2008).[29]
Kinsenda Mine Sakania 12°11′51″S 27°47′52″E / 12.1975°S 27.797778°E / -12.1975; 27.797778 Kinseda Copper Company 28,414 tonnes of copper (2018)[39]
Lonshi Mine Sakania 13°10′30″S 28°56′21″E / 13.175103°S 28.939104°E / -13.175103; 28.939104 Sabwe Mining
  • JCHX Mining Management
 50,000 tonnes copper (2008).[29]
Dikulushi mine Pweto 08°53′0″S 28°16′0″E / 8.88333°S 28.26667°E / -8.88333; 28.26667 Everbright Mining
  • JCHX Mining Management
 20,000 tonnes copper (2008).[29]
Kapulo mine Pweto 8°18′47″S 29°14′02″E / 8.313°S 29.234°E / -8.313; 29.234

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "New initiative to support artisanal cobalt mining in the DRC". Mining Review. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  3. ^ Laznicka 2010, p. 441.
  4. ^ a b c "Mining Analyst visit to the DRC" (PDF). Metorex. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  5. ^ Bisson & Vogel 2000, p. 116.
  6. ^ Bisson & Vogel 2000, p. 92.
  7. ^ Higginson 1989, p. 53.
  8. ^ Higginson 1989, p. 56.
  9. ^ Allen-Mills, Tony (17 June 2008). "Congo sapped of riches as Denis menaces Boulevard Saint-Germain". The Australian. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
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  12. ^ Tim Webb (6 September 2010). "Mining companies clash over Congo copper mine". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
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  17. ^ "Exploitation". Gécamines. Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  18. ^ "Guide of Mining Investor" (PDF). DRC Ministry of Mines. June 2003. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
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  20. ^ ""Katanga". Glencore. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
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  23. ^ "Miniere Musoshi Kinsenda". Business Week. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  24. ^ "Afrimines Resources SPRL". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  25. ^ "Tiger Resources Secures Interest in Additional Highly Prospective Copper Exploration Tenements in the DRC" (PDF). MiningNexus.com. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  26. ^ "Edmonds, Groves resign from Camec board after ENRC takeover". Mining Weekly. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  27. ^ Michael J Kavanagh (2021-09-28). "Congo Reviews $6.2 Billion China Mining Deal as Criticism Grows". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
  28. ^ Malu-Malu, Muriel Devey (2022-07-15). "DRC: Kamoa-Kakula copper complex set to become world's third-largest copper mine by 2024". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Geological Survey (U.S.) (2010). Minerals Yearbook, 2008, V. 3, Area Reports, International, Africa and the Middle East. Government Printing Office. pp. 11–8. ISBN 978-1-4113-2965-2.
  30. ^ Rani, Archana (2021-04-12). "CATL to acquire stake in DRC's Kisanfu copper-cobalt mine in $137m deal". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  31. ^ Rani, Archana (2022-07-01). "China's CMOC plans $1.8bn investment in Congo copper-cobalt mine". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  32. ^ Wilson, Tom (2016-03-07). "China Expands Congo-Copper Control as Western Miners Retreat". Yahoo Finance – Stock market live, quotes, business & finance news. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
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  37. ^ a b c "Kambove, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)". Mindat. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  38. ^ Rani, Archana (2022-03-31). "Congo halts court case against China Moly to resolve Tenke mine dispute". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  39. ^ Jinchuan Group. "Kinsenda project achieved nameplate production capacity for both mining operation and process plant" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-08-16.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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