The provincial government of Kasaï-Oriental is taking steps to improve the regulation of artisanal copper mining and promote local transformation in Mbuji-Mayi. On September 26, Governor Jean-Paul Mbwebwa Kapo emphasized the need for better regulation and utilization of the province's copper potential. This move is part of a broader effort to maximize the value of the region's mineral resources.
A delegation from the central Ministry of Mines and specialized services recently visited mining sites in Katende and Bena Muya, within the perimeter of the Bakwanga Mining Company (Miba). The team included representatives from the Service d'assistance et d'encadrement de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (Saemape), the Centre d'expertise, d'évaluation et de certification des substances minérales précieuses et semi-précieuses (CEEC), and other key agencies. Their mission was to assess the conditions of artisanal mining and engage with local miners.
The mission aimed to organize artisanal miners into cooperatives and promote the institutionalization of Zones d'exploitation artisanale (Zea). The CEEC plans to establish a trading center in Mbujimayi to improve the marketing of artisanal minerals through evaluation and certification. This infrastructure is expected to enhance the regulation of artisanal mining and increase the value of locally extracted minerals.
Governor Jean-Paul Mbwebwa Kapo advocates for the local treatment of copper extracted in the province, rather than exporting it for processing elsewhere. Provincial authorities believe that local transformation would create more value-added economic activities around the mining sector. However, the governor notes that sufficient electricity supply is a necessary condition for establishing processing units in Mbujimayi.
The province's copper potential is being explored, with an official prospection launched in June 2026 in Katende, following the start of the Micka project (Mines de cuivre du Kasaï). A high-grade copper deposit was also discovered in the area in July. These developments underscore the region's significant mineral wealth and the potential for economic growth through local processing.
Félix MULUMBA KALEMBA has been involved in the process, and the provincial government is working to create an enabling environment for local copper transformation. The initiative is expected to boost economic activity and improve the livelihoods of local communities. The government's efforts to regulate artisanal mining and promote local processing are seen as crucial steps towards achieving sustainable economic development in the region.
Key points
- The government of Kasaï-Oriental aims to regulate artisanal copper mining and promote local transformation to increase the value of the region's mineral resources.
- A trading center is planned in Mbujimayi to improve the marketing of artisanal minerals through evaluation and certification.
- Local copper transformation is expected to create more value-added economic activities around the mining sector, but sufficient electricity supply is a necessary condition.
