Africa News: Recommendations for better mining and industrial governance in the DRC and Africa
The DRC-Africa Forum 2023, which took place from September 20 to 21, brought together various economic actors and political decision-makers to discuss the improvement of mining and industrial governance in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). . At the end of these two days of reflection, 18 recommendations were formulated to achieve this objective.
The first recommendation concerns the adoption of a general law on industries, which would be called the Industry Code or Industrial Code, in accordance with the DRC Mining Code. This law aims to create a solid regulatory framework for the industrial sector.
Another major recommendation is to make the DRC an investment destination in the electric battery sector by 2040. This involves pooling efforts between African states, particularly the DRC and Zambia, to ensure effective investments in the mining sector and the processing industry.
It is also crucial to seek cutting-edge skills and technology to sustain wealth creation in the metals and batteries industry value chain in Africa and the DRC in particular. The participants recommend drawing inspiration from Chinese and American models to develop mutualization models specific to the DRC and Zambia.
Seeking in-depth knowledge of mineral resources as well as certifying mineral deposits according to economically profitable plans are also key recommendations to increase the supply of battery metals on the continent.
In addition, it is essential to realize the action plan aimed at financing research and development of green technologies by relying on the skills of youth. This will make it possible to define a precise agenda for the production of the first precursors of batteries or electric vehicles thanks to the partnership between the DRC and Zambia.
An important part of these recommendations also concerns improving the governance of the mining sector, by strengthening the capacities of state actors and putting in place regulations to attract investors and facilitate the local processing of metals for electric batteries.
Finally, measures are recommended to improve the governance of artisanal mining in the DRC, integrate small savings into the financial market and create special economic zones to combat unethical practices and promote a better business climate..
These recommendations, from the DRC-Africa 2023 Forum, highlight the importance of strong governance and collaboration between economic and political actors to leverage the potential of the mining sector and industry in Africa, while by ensuring sustainable and equitable development.