Gold exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to play an important role in the country’s economy. During the first six months of 2023, the DRC exported 15 tonnes of raw gold, generating revenues of approximately US$677.3 million. These figures come from a report from the Technical Coordination and Mining Planning Unit of the Ministry of Mines.
Kibali Gold, a mining company operating in the DRC, was responsible for the majority of exports with over 13 tonnes of gold, representing 88% of total exports. This amount generated an estimated revenue of US$556.1 million. On the other hand, the MCCR company only exported 15.83 kg of gold, for revenues estimated at $847,103.
Interestingly, exports of raw gold from artisanal mining also played a significant role. During the first half of 2023, these exports reached more than 2 tonnes, for revenues estimated at $120.3 million. South Kivu province was the main source of exported artisanal gold, accounting for 96.86% of the total. It was followed by Tanganyika with 1.63%, the province of Kinshasa with 0.56%, Ituri with 0.53% and Tshopo with 0.43%.
The export of gold is a crucial sector for the DRC economy, but it is important to ensure that this activity takes place in a legal and transparent manner. The Congolese government must continue to strengthen its control and surveillance mechanisms to combat illegal gold mining and ensure that revenues from this natural resource truly benefit the development of the country and its local communities.
In conclusion, the export of gold remains an important pillar of the DRC economy. Recent figures show that this activity continues to generate significant revenue for the country. However, it is crucial to put in place measures to ensure that this valuable resource is exploited responsibly and equitably, ensuring that local communities benefit and that the funds generated genuinely contribute to the development of the country.