Fatshimetrie, July 28, 2024 – A significant step has just been taken in the field of research on Kivu coltan, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. During a session organized at the Higher Pedagogical Institute (ISP) in Bukavu, the results of the work carried out were highlighted, offering interesting perspectives for the future of this strategic resource.
The Academic Secretary General of ISP-Bukavu, Professor Amisi Safari, stressed the importance of purifying coltan with renewable acids that are less destructive to the environment. This innovative approach paves the way for practices that are more respectful of our ecosystem, by replacing hydrofluoric acids considered too harmful.
In addition to this environmental advance, other technological and industrial applications of coltan were highlighted. Indeed, this resource is used in many sectors, ranging from aviation to electronic devices and cutting-edge technologies such as smartphones, surveillance cameras and electric vehicles. The DRC, the world’s leading producer of coltan, thus has a key role to play in the development of these industries.
Professor Fabrice Muvunja, a chemistry specialist at ISP-Bukavu, highlighted the richness of tantalum and niobium in Kivu coltan, emphasizing its potential for use on an industrial scale. He called on the Congolese government and stakeholders in the coltan chain to move to the industrialization phase to fully exploit this resource.
For his part, Professor Philippe Lambin, professor emeritus at the University of Namur, highlighted the numerous coltan deposits in eastern DRC, emphasizing the importance of research conducted in this region. The results presented during this session constitute a major step forward, opening the way to new perspectives for the exploitation and valorization of coltan.
In conclusion, this meeting at ISP-Bukavu provided an overview of the advances made in research on Kivu coltan. The recommendations of the experts present demonstrate the strategic importance of this resource for the technological and industrial development of the country. It is now essential to undertake concrete actions to enhance the potential of coltan and position the DRC as a major player in this field.