Global General

Mining resumes in DR Congo's Katanga province

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-15 23:01

KINSHASA: More than 10 big mining companies in Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have fully resumed their operations after the shutdown amid the global financial crisis, local radio reported on Monday.

The provincial official in charge of mining, Emmanuel Kyanda, told radio that operations were resumed following the price hikes of metals on the world market, where copper could be sold at US$6,900 to US$7,000 per ton, instead of last year's US$3,000.

The official said this is a positive sign for the future of his province's economy since the resumption will also lead to the integration of a number of workers who had been rendered jobless by some mining companies.

"Within Katanga, we have noticed that all companies that had reduced their activities have resumed and have actually increased their production. We can talk of Chemaf, and Rwashi Mining. There is also Comsa and Frontiers which have resumed. They have realized that recession is in the process of coming to an end, the price of metals is also going up. They need to produce more. At the international level, we are at US$6,900 per ton of copper. This is what is driving these companies to resume their activities, " he explained.

Kyanda pointed out that the companies that had completely shut down were small processing plants, while those that had reduced the level of their activities are in the process of regaining full operation within a reasonable period of time.