Browsing: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Mineral processing firm Buenassa in the DRC is developing the country’s first integrated copper and cobalt refinery.
• In Mali, Russia’s Yadran Group and a Swiss investor are collaborating with the government in a deal to process up to 200 tonnes of gold per year.
• In Angola, a $5M plant, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, will produce 50 kgs of gold per day.

Mineral-rich African nations are fast-tracking the development of refineries and processing plants in a bid to reduce raw exports, boost local beneficiation, and capture greater value from their mineral wealth.

This continent-wide shift toward value-added industrialization will take center stage at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) — the region’s leading platform for mining stakeholders.

Held under the theme “From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth,” AMW will spotlight Africa’s downstream mining ambitions and connect local players with global investors to …

• The EAC’s distribution sector is marred by systemic challenges, despite claims of a working free trade zone in the bloc.
• Stakeholders say that persistent bottlenecks hamper the flow of goods and services across the eight-member area.
• A recent EU-led EAC Peer-to-Peer Learning Conference sought to formulate a strategic action plan to address barriers limiting the industry’s growth and development.

The East African Community (EAC) is an eight-country strong regional free trade bloc in East Africa, by definition, it should mean easier movement or distribution of goods and services, but that’s only true on paper, the reality on the ground is quite on the contrary.

EAC maintains that it is “dedicated to enhancing economic efficiency and fostering regional integration through strategic investments and the utilization of established industries. The goal is to position the Community as a single investment area, harmonizing trade policies, investment incentives, and product standards.”

Protocols demand that …

Jervois has completed its merger with eCobalt after receiving eCobalt’s nod from its Canadian shareholders and Supreme Court of British Columbia approvals. According to a joint announcement, following the successful completion of the Arrangement, all conditions precedent have been met and settlement of the A$16.5 million equity placement in Jervois has occurred.

The expanded company has projects in Australia, East Africa, and the US, including eCobalt’s Idaho Cobalt project, which boasts the highest combination of cobalt grade and scale in North America.

The acquisition of M2 Cobalt gave Jervois an entry into Uganda, complementing its East African strategy looking at opportunities around the historic Kilembe mine and Kasese cobalt refinery.

Idaho Cobalt Project has been renamed Idaho Cobalt Operations (“ICO”) to reflect its advanced stage of development and Jervois’s intention to transform the site into a mining operation. The site has had an estimated US$100 million invested to date in …