The Republic of Congo government has announced its determination to enforce regulations within the operational perimeter of the Société de Recherche et d’Exploitation Minière (SOREMI). Minister of Mining Industries and Geology, Urbain Fiacre Opo, recently conducted a surprise visit to the Bouenza department to assess the situation. The visit aimed to verify the implementation of measures for the restart of SOREMI's installations and production.
During the visit, Minister Opo observed that some companies were complying with the ministerial note prohibiting the use of heavy machinery and explosives in artisanal mining. However, others continued to openly violate the regulations. The authorizations issued only concerned the encadrement of artisans, implying manual exploitation. Instead, the minister found a massive presence of high-capacity machinery, effectively transforming artisanal mining into clandestine industrial exploitation.
Minister Opo addressed the issue with a representative of a company operating illegally on the site, emphasizing that they did not have an exploitation permit. He stressed that having a permit did not allow them to exploit resources in someone else's parcel. The minister instructed non-compliant companies to withdraw their machinery from the perimeter immediately. He also announced ongoing discussions with SOREMI and upcoming meetings with all concerned companies.
The minister's visit included sites in Yanga Koubenza and Boko Songo, where he witnessed alleged violations of SOREMI's exploitation perimeter. The area is rich in polymetals and has attracted numerous activities that encroach on SOREMI's rights. The prefect of Bouenza, Marcel Ganongo, expressed his concerns, stating that the government aims to preserve SOREMI's interests and allow only manual artisanal mining.
Despite the challenges posed by the influx of artisanal miners and companies with questionable authorizations, SOREMI has reassured the government of its commitment to restarting its factory by the end of December. SOREMI's President Director General, Dean Craig, highlighted the complexity of coexisting with artisanal miners, citing security concerns and the exploitation of SOREMI's minerals.
This visit follows previous ones in Kinkala and Mindouli, where Minister Opo resolved a mining dispute between artisanal miners and the Baouchi company. The government's efforts aim to balance the interests of various stakeholders while enforcing regulations and ensuring the smooth operation of SOREMI.
The situation in the Bouenza department underscores the need for effective regulation and enforcement in the mining sector. The government's firm stance on compliance is expected to have significant implications for mining activities in the region. Minister Opo reiterated that no one can evade the law and that exploiters must adhere to regulatory provisions under penalty of sanctions.
Key points
- The Republic of Congo government is determined to enforce regulations within the SOREMI mining perimeter.
- The government has observed widespread violations, including the use of heavy machinery in artisanal mining.
- SOREMI aims to restart its factory by the end of December despite ongoing challenges.
