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DRC dispute disentangled: ENRC and FQM agree settlement

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:13:18 +0000

London listed miner, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc (ENRC) and Canada’s First Quantum Minerals Ltd (FQM) have resolved a rumble in the jungle with a US$1.25bn settlement for disputed mining assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page36?oid=142586&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

Energy colonialism in the Congo

Richard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:14:07 +0000

The Congo River embodies an immense amount of energy – enough to supply a significant portion of Africa’s electricity requirements. The river is being touted as a perpetual source of clean, green power that could “light up Africa” and solve many of the continent’s problems.

But if its power is harnessed, who will benefit – the DRC’s millions of poor or a wealthy regional and international elite?

Civil society organisations are worried that ordinary Congolese, only 6% of whom have access to electricity, will remain in the dark, while their river’s power is transmitted to mines and industrial facilities in South Africa, elsewhere in Africa or even Europe, or to power-hungry installations such as a massive aluminium smelter proposed for the coast by BHP Billiton.

See http://www.news24.com/Columnists/AndreasSpath/Energy-colonialism-in-the-Congo-20111130

World’s Biggest Hydropower Scheme Will Leave Africans in the Dark

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:17:43 +0000

South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to build a major hydroelectric power project, which is said to bring electricity to more than half of the continent’s 900 million people. But economic analysts warn that foreign investors will prevent the grid from benefiting the general public.

(One of the companies hoping to benefit from cheap power from the Inga Dam project is BHP Billiton.)

See http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105843.

Glencore puts up $635 million to build world’s largest cobalt mine

Richard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:10:56 +0000

Katanga Mining announced on Friday it has secured $635.5 million in new loan facilities from parent Glencore International to fund the expansion of its Democratic Republic of Congo copper-cobalt mine. Katanga says with the expansion the DRC complex it could become Africa’s largest producer of copper and the world’s number one cobalt mine.

See http://www.mining.com/2011/11/11/katanga-gets-635-million-to-build-worlds-largest-cobalt-mine/.

Africa’s Energy Future Heading Down a Dark Tunnel

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:07:33 +0000

BHP Billiton’s proposed Inga 3 hyropower scheme in DR Congo, and its existing Mphanda Nkugwa dam in Mozambique – both designed to provide electricity for the company’s aluminium plants – come under fire from the former Africa programme director of the International Rivers Network, based in San Francisco.

See http://www.internationalrivers.org/blog/lori-pottinger/2011-9-26/africas-energy-future-heading-down-dark-tunnel.

Colombia to the Congo: Lust for Gold Threatens Environment & Human Rights

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:44:26 +0000

Nestled alongside the central range of the Andes lies the town of Cajamarca, Colombia, also known as la dispensa agricola de Colombia: literally Colombia’s agricultural larder. The fertile environs surrounding this settlement of twenty thousand souls play host to bumper crop of coffee, peas, kidney beans and fruits. Nourished by fresh mountain springs that in turn trickle downwards toward the rice growing lowlands of Tolima, Cajamarca, sits amidst a contrasting landscape of agricultural endeavor and natural beauty.

But this is threatened by AngloGold Ashanti‘s mining plans.

See http://www.towardfreedom.com/americas/2549-colombia-to-the-congo-lust-for-gold-threatens-environment-a-human-rights

AngloGold May Lift Output 68% by 2020 Excluding Acquisitions

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (ANG), the third- largest producer of the metal, may increase output 68 percent by 2020 excluding any acquisitions as it seeks to reverse declines.

See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-26/anglogold-ashanti-says-production-could-rise-to-7-6-million-ounces-in-2020.html.

ENRC ends long-awaited governance review; CEO and chairman stay on

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:37:45 +0000

London-listed miner ENRC has ended its long-awaited governance review, confirming both the chairman and CEO in their roles as part of a trimmer board that it hopes will revive its underperforming shares.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page504?oid=136466&sn=Detail&pid=92730.…
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Long but hopeful path towards legislation on conflict minerals

Richard — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:23:35 +0000

On 26 May, SOMO organised a Roundtable in the European Parliament, together with Judith Sargentini (Member of European Parliament, GroenLinks). This well attended meeting focused on conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This Roundtable focused on two objectives: urging the European commission to develop legislation in the matter, and offering a platform for Congolese NGOs. The meeting was a success, but the road to actual legislation is still a long one. But doing nothing is not an option, according to Judith Sargentini.

See: http://somo.nl/news-en/long-but-hopeful-path-towards-legislation-on-conflict-minerals/

DRC wikileak reveals a uranium scandal: UK company put in the spotlight

Richard — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:15:45 +0000

One of the most explosive wikileaks published late last year escaped the attention of many in the international media – though it was quite widely covered elsewhere, as in this article by Julio Godoy of Inter Press Service (IPS).

In this particular instance, leaked US diplomatic cables alleged a raft of recent serious safety violations at uranium mines and nuclear facilities in a number of African countries. One of these cables, dated September 2007, is from Roger A Meece, the US Ambassador to DR Congo. It identifies Finnish, British, Congolese and South African companies as likely to have been complicit in the illicit trading of uranium (if not copper and cobalt as well).

In its summary of this wikileak, Godoy indicts an outfit called Malta Forest for illegally “mining and exporting” DRC’s uranium from the Luiswishi deposit in Katanga province. However, Meece’s cable is considerably more circumspect about this company’s role than Godoy’ article suggests. Ambassador Reece raised the serious possibility that it was actually a UK company, Brinkley Mining, that tried to secure this lucrative uranium contract.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10634.

LMN and other NGOs call to halt BHP Billiton’s Congo aluminium smelter

Richard — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:46:39 +0000

Fourteen African and other civil society organisations, including London Mining Network, have called on BHP Billiton to halt its plans to construct a US$5 billion aluminum smelter, and co-fund a $3.5 billion hydropower project, in Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Terri Hathaway of International Rivers: “One of the world’s richest corporations is jumping the development queue ahead of some of the world’s poorest people. BHP Billiton’s flagrant disregard for the consequences of this venture is alarming.”

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10597.

Congolese victims strike Anvil in Canada

Richard — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:43:58 +0000

A class action suit has been filed in Canada against a domestic company, accused of complicity in one of the worst recorded atrocities of the recent bloody conflicts in DR Congo.

It is alleged that, in 2004, Anvil Mining (then listed on the Australian stock exchange) provided logistical support from its Dikulushi mining project to the Congolese army, which proceeded to murder more than 70 unarmed citizens in a nearby town. Anvil Mining Limited – through its wholly owned subsidiaries Anvil Management NL (Australia) and Anvil Mining Holdings Limited (UK) had a 90% holding in Anvil Mining Congo SARL.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10515.

Congo Says Talks With BHP Billiton on Inga 3 Power Plant Are Very Advanced

Richard — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:39:32 +0000

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government is in “very advanced” talks with BHP Billiton Ltd. on the Inga 3 hydropower project, as the world’s biggest mining company seeks electricity for a possible aluminum smelter.
Congo formally invited offers to build the project on the Congo River yesterday, Energy Minister Gilbert Tshiongo Tshibinkubula wa Tumba said today in Kinshasa, the capital. BHP, studying development of a smelter in the country, is continuing talks with the government on both ventures, which are at an “early conceptual phase,” Rosheeka Amarasekara, a London-based spokeswoman for the company, said by telephone.

See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-27/congo-says-talks-with-bhp-on-building-inga-3-very-advanced-.html.

ENRC to pay $670m to expand Brazilian iron ore presence

Richard — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:09:00 +0000

London-listed Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc has been on a takeover spree over the past year, using its cash pile to buy assets mostly in Africa to build up a broad-based mining house focused on emerging markets. “ENRC’s objective… is to build the foundation of a large scale, long-life, integrated iron ore business within Brazil — a new, additional operating geography to underpin the diversification of the group,” ENRC said. It will pay $670 million to Swiss group Zamin Ferrous for the 50 percent of iron ore developer Bahia Minerals BV it does not already own and also got an option allowing it to buy an adjoining project for up to $150 million.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page39?oid=111555&sn=Detail.

ENRC is in dispute with Canadian company First Quantum over operations in Democratic Republic of Congo. See http://londonminingnetwork.org/2010/09/dr-congo-nationalises-one-of-its-largest-copper-mines/.

DR Congo nationalises one of its largest copper mines

Richard — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:48:33 +0000

Canadian and UK companies go head-to-head over deal

The “spat” between two foreign mining outfits, over which should control one of DR Congo’s most important copper lodes, has escalated – to the point that one of them is taking the other to court. Siding with London-listed Kazakhistan-based ENRC is the Congolese government, which has now effectively nationalised the project.

Meanwhile , the aggrieved party, Canada’s First Quantum, has protested to the UK’s Financial Services Authority, calling for an independent review. The company also accuses two of ENRC’s high-profile British non-executive directors of failing to exercise due diligence over the deal.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10368.

Hello, I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC – Here’s how I help fuel the world’s deadliest conflict

Richard — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:34:07 +0000

Hello, I’m a Mac, and I’m helping fuel the war in the Congo — currently the deadliest conflict in the world. So are PCs, cell phones, digital cameras and other consumer electronics. That’s what Apple’s famous “I’m a Mac … And I’m a PC” ads don’t tell you. So I (Brooke) and cinematographer Steven Lubensky, with the help of actors Joshua Malina and John Lehr, decided to create a version that does.

See http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23956.