Fatshimetrie, October 21, 2024 – A recent initiative has generated a lot of interest within the mining community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, a mining company established in the country recently requested an exemption for the importation of hydrated lime from Zambia, in accordance with an order from the Minister of Foreign Trade that requires special authorization for this material.
This request was presented during a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, and the President of Glencore/DRC, Marie-Chantal Kaninda, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kamoto Copper Company SA-KCC. The objective of this request is to allow the company to continue its activities while preserving local industries located in the South-East of the country, which also produce lime.
Indeed, the Minister of Foreign Trade has taken measures to temporarily restrict the importation of lime into the South-East region of the DRC in order to protect these local industries. However, recognizing the importance of Glencore’s activities in the country, he granted a waiver for the importation of lime from Zambia, on condition that the company also purchases a quantity of locally produced lime.
Marie-Chantal Kaninda expressed satisfaction with this decision and assured the Congolese government that the Glencore group actively supports the development of entrepreneurship in the DRC. This approach is therefore welcomed as a good compromise between supporting local industries and continuing the mining company’s activities in the country.
It should be noted that Glencore/DRC is a major global company in the field of raw materials, with significant investments in the DRC. Its collaboration with the Congolese government to find mutually beneficial solutions demonstrates its commitment to the economic and industrial development of the country.
In conclusion, this approach aimed at reconciling the interests of local industries and large mining companies in the DRC is an example of constructive cooperation between the private sector and government authorities. It shows that it is possible to find innovative solutions to promote economic development while protecting the interests of local stakeholders.