Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have seized thousands of tons of copper and cobalt, prompting Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali to order an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal mining. The confiscations followed a visit by a commission of police, military and mines ministry officials to the copper-rich southeastern provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, the justice ministry said in a statement posted on X on Monday.
The ministry said the operations resulted in the seizure of more than 500 trucks and other vehicles and machinery, as well as several thousand tons of copper and cobalt. The investigation may uncover "mining fraud, illegal exploitation of mineral resources and mineral smuggling," the ministry said. The seizures took place at several locations, notably at Menda in Lualaba, where Eurasian Resources Group holds licenses. The company has become increasingly vocal about illicit mining on its concessions, including its flagship Metalkol operation. ERG did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.
Congo is the world's largest source of the battery metal cobalt and the second-biggest copper producer. It has struggled to prevent illegal miners, often protected by Congolese security forces, from encroaching on sprawling concessions held by international companies including Glencore Plc and CMOC Group Ltd. Last week, the United Nations' Radio Okapi reported that more than 60 foreign nationals had been detained at Menda over alleged illegal mining and immigration violations, along with Congolese civilians and military personnel.
The probe follows the suspension of a key mining regulator and the detention of hundreds of Chinese miners in recent weeks. Chinese companies such as CMOC and Zijin Mining Group Co. account for most copper and cobalt output in the central African country. Some smaller Chinese operators run processing plants without their own mines and source ore on the open market.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing