Congo halts operations at a Chinese mine following a disaster
Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba announced late Thursday that the DRC had halted operations at a Chinese-run mine site in the southern part of the resource-rich nation due to a leak.
A division of Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (603799.SS) of China, Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM) primarily sources copper and cobalt from the Central African nation, opens a new tab.
After learning of a spill from the site that had impacted multiple areas, Watum stated on X that he traveled to Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in Congo.
According to him, the business pollutes water and puts the public’s health at grave risk because it does not adhere to environmental regulations.
He noted that if needed, the three-month suspension might be prolonged.
An inquiry into the event will be carried out, Watum stated. “CDM must fully repair the environmental damage, ensure the remuneration of its staff, compensate the affected populations, and strictly comply with the requirements of the Mining Code,” he added.
Congo, which produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, banned exports in February in an effort to reduce supplies and raise prices.
To resume exports under a quota system, authorities lifted the embargo that had been in place since October 16. But according to industry insiders who spoke to Reuters last month, cobalt producers are still awaiting government approval to resume exports.
