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Congo suspends artisanal mining agency head for failing to prevent illegal activities

By Reuters News

By Ange Kasongo

KINSHASA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's mines minister has suspended the head of the state agency overseeing artisanal and small-scale mining, accusing him of failing to prevent illegal mining on licensed concessions, according to an order seen by Reuters.

  • Mines minister Louis Kabamba Watum suspended Jean-Paul Kadiobo Kapongo, director general of the Service d'Assistance et d'Encadrement de l'Exploitation Miniere Artisanale et a Petite Echelle (SAEMAPE), on October 21, the document showed

  • The order said Kapongo failed to take necessary measures to prevent illegal artisanal mining on concession areas, particularly in the copper- and cobalt-rich provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga

  • Kapongo did not immediately respond to requests for comment

  • The order also accused him of improperly establishing SAEMAPE revenue-collection services inside concession areas, depriving permit holders of the full use of their rights and exposing the state to potential liabilities arising from damages suffered by third parties

  • The suspension took immediate effect and was formally communicated to government agencies and provincial authorities on October 22

  • Congo, the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, is grappling with a resurgence in artisanal mining as higher metal prices draw thousands of informal miners into licensed areas, creating tensions with industrial operators

  • Major operators include CMOC 603993.SS, Glencore GLEN.L, Ivanhoe Mines IVN.TO and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG)

  • Kinshasa, which is pursuing separate minerals partnerships with the US, China and Europe, has stepped up mining reforms and enforcement as it seeks to improve governance and attract investment

  • Authorities this week also restarted operations at the Musompo trading centre near Kolwezi, a key facility designed to improve transparency in mineral sales through certified weighing and analysis


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