Robert Crem écrit à Paul Wolfowitz
Cambriolage à Tervuren
D'après un article du Wall Street Journal, le Musée de Tervuren a reçu la visite de cambrioleurs, intéressés par les informations géologiques anciennes sur les matières premières congolaises !
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Exportations de minerais brut
KINSHASA,(AFP) - Le gouverneur de la riche province minière du Katanga, Moïse Katumbi, a annoncé le 16 mars le gel des exportations d'hétérogénite -- c'est-à-dire de minerais mélangés à la teneur variable en cuivre et en cobalt-- qui étaient jusqu'à présent exportés sous cette forme brute avant d'être traités et transformés dans des usines essentiellement sud-africaines et zambiennes. En déplacement au Katanga, le ministre congolais des Mines, Martin Kabwelulu Labilo, a soutenu la décision du gouverneur du fait du "faible contrôle" des services de l'Etat sur les exportations et de l'importance de la fraude, notamment au niveau des "déclarations des tonnages" transportés. "Nous sommes conscients des désagréments causés à certains partenaires, mais ils doivent comprendre qu'on doit lutter contre la fraude et les exportations illégales", a déclaré mercredi à l'AFP Alexis Mikandji, directeur de cabinet du ministre des Mines. "La loi congolaise n'autorise que de manière exceptionnelle l'exportation de minerais brut. Cette exception est devenue la règle. C'est inacceptable pour l'Etat congolais", a-t-il ajouté. Les experts du secteur minier en RDC estiment que 90% des exportations de minerais échappent au contrôle douanier. "Mais même sur les 10% restant, tout n'est pas régulier. Il existe en RDC des possibilités de traitement des minerais et c'est ce que nous voulons encourager et développer", a expliqué M. Mikandji.
Katanga Announces Improved Production Profile
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(MARKET WIRE)
Katanga Mining Limited announced an anticipated increase in production at the Kamoto Joint Venture. The announcement follows the publication in February of new year-end reserve and resource estimates for December 31, 2006. The increase in grades enables the Joint Venture to increase production, especially during the early phases of its operations. Copper production during the first three phases of operations, lasting until the end of 2010, is projected to increase 30 per cent to 266,500 tonnes. Similarly, projected cobalt production is up 63 per cent to 16,000 tonnes. During the first 20 years of the Joint Venture, indicated copper production increases 16 per cent to 2.5 million tonnes and cobalt production 7 per cent to 122,000 tonnes. "This improved production profile creates opportunity to reduce the already low cost of production projected from the feasibility study," stated Arthur Ditto, President & CEO of Katanga. "We expect our net cash flow in the early stages of the project to improve and the financial benefits for all stakeholders to increase." Katanga will publish this production schedule, and cost updates as compared to its technical report, on its website.
Metorex has permission to export DRC concentrate
MiningWeekly Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed miner Metorex had secured an agreement with Katumbi, which gave it a six-month window period to export concentrate of between 15% and 18% concentration to its Zambian Sable processing plant. “There was a group of five major mining companies, including Metorex, which approached Katumbi regarding the situation, as they felt they had no other alternative facilities to beneficiate ore”. The governor then established a committee, which heard the appeals, and after further talks with the governor, the outcome for Metorex was that the prohibition of its concentrate from Ruashi mine was lifted. Meanwhile, the governor had previously questioned Metorex over the low grade of the concentrates it was producing at its Ruashi mine. The government wanted the concentrates to be at a 25% level, this isn't not economically viable for the firm to do. “It can’t technically be lifted without a major reduction in our recoveries. They have accepted that our concentrates run at 15% to 18%.” “Indications are that we will get an extension in time until the beginning of January, but we will have to reapply for that. We are confident that there would be no problems in this regard. The Ruasi second phase would produce beneficiated copper cathode and cobalt carbonate, which met Katumbi’s requirements. Ruashi phase two would treat 120 000 t/m of ore, producing 45 000 t/y of copper, and probably 3 500 t/y of cobalt.Katumbi told that companies should consider grouping together to invest in an upgrade of State-owned Gecamines’ Shituru concentrator to beneficiate their ore. While Metorex would not get involved in this, owing to its own plant's construction absorbing its time and efforts, it agreed with the idea. “That’s 100% right, the Shituru plant should be upgraded. But if the international mining firms are contributing to the upgrade, the equity holding needs to change.”
To Mr. P. WOLFOWITZ
President of the World Bank
Dear Mr. President,
Subject: Mine exploitation and corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo. How the State is being destroyed.
Mining in Katanga was started in 1906 by the Belgian company Union Minière. For almost a century the resources of copper, cobalt, zinc, uranium, cadmium, germanium, selenium, gold and silver mainly benefited private western shareholders.
I have made a career in the mines of Katanga and, during the seventies and eighties, I have assisted ZAIRE, technically and at the republic’s highest level, in raising the output to its highest historical level, i.e. 470.000 tons of copper and 17.000 tons of cobalt. I have reached that target thanks to the efficient cooperation, at that time, of the World Bank (André GUE, Marianne HAUG, Lou BREFORT) and of the United States (the ambassadors R. OAKLEY, D.H. SIMPSON and L. WIESNER).
As a former Executive President of GECAMINES, it is my duty to draw the attention of the President of the World Bank quite emphatically to the dramatic consequences of the errors in management, as well as the implementation of erroneous advice made to the Presidency of the Republic, which have led to the selling-off of among the most important reserves of non-ferrous metals in the world, some of them of strategic value. A set of corrective measures is urgently needed to save a moribund State and to preserve a world mineral heritage. Priority action needs to be initiated by and under the aegis of the World Bank, together with its partners and the States concerned.
It should be reminded that corruption was the main, if not the only, element of decision in the case of the recent allocation of mining polygons and metallurgic installations (Tenke-Fungurume and Kamoto mines, and other deposits and plants).
Meanwhile, the Katangese deposits are being looted by adventurers, while the management of GECAMINES remains marginal.
It is most regrettable that the terms of reference of the interim management programme, which is financed by the Bank, have not been observed.
The fragmentation has the following consequences:
- the destruction of the mineral deposits of the world’s heritage;
- the alienation of the Republic’s main mining resources;
- the discredit of the Republic;
- the bankruptcy of the State;
- the destruction of the Congolese populations.
I refuse to believe that the experts of the Bank can condone such industrial and social disaster.
In view of the alarming situation I have reported to:
- the authorities of the DRC;
- the Belgian authorities;
- the NGOs that are active in Central Africa;
- the Congolese press.
In these reports and messages I have suggested a number of corrective measures, namely:
- the termination (suspension) of all current or signed mining contracts and/or conventions;
- the survey and audit of those contracts and/or conventions, as well as of their terms of application, on the technical, commercial and financial level, in view of their possible renewal or termination;
- the formalisation of a transitional management at GECAMINES, with the possible cooperation of the current operators, according to terms yet to be determined, but under a competent and strict technical and financial control.
- the drafting of contract conditions for the privatisation of GECAMINES and an international call for tenders;
- the establishment of export controls per product, both as far as volumes and grades are concerned, the payment of various rights and the repatriation of a share of the receipts;
- the identification of commercial circuits in order to determine the possible involvement of users, consumers and processing companies;
- the organisation of a traditional mining workforce to avoid a major employment crisis and to grant a status to the workforce of craftsmen.
This enumeration is not exhaustive and the solutions to the problems mentioned are far from utopian.
I would like to end on a positive note by stressing that, despite the pillages, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has substantial mineral reserves at its disposal that should guarantee the revival of the national economy and of the foreign investments.
Only the World Bank and its institutional and private partners can initiate the reforms proposed. I hope that my warning message will be heard.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Crem