Zinc mining production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a significant increase since the start of the current year. According to data from the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), mining companies operating in the country produced 8,185 tonnes of zinc. However, it is interesting to note that the participation of public companies, in particular Gécamines, remains very low in this production.
In comparison, total zinc production in the DRC for last year was 12,309 tonnes. This highlights the untapped potential of this sector for the economic development of the country.
On the international market, the price of zinc stands at USD 2,435 per tonne this Tuesday, October 17, 2023. This value reflects the growing interest in zinc, particularly with the return of Citi, an American bank which recently purchased a significant amount of zinc inventory.
However, despite this increase in production, the DRC remains at the bottom of the list of African zinc-producing countries. The continent’s best producers are Namibia, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Morocco and South Africa.
It is important to emphasize that the mining sector in the DRC has enormous potential, not only for the production of zinc, but also for other minerals. The country has vast untapped natural resources that could contribute significantly to its economic development.
In conclusion, although zinc production in the DRC has increased, much remains to be done to fully exploit the potential of this sector. These are opportunities to be seized for mining companies and for the country as a whole, in order to promote sustainable economic growth and contribute to the well-being of its population.