The Deziwa mine is a large open-pit copper and cobalt mine located about 35 km east of Kolwezi in Lualaba Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] The mine is estimated to hold 4.6 million tonnes of copper and 420,000 tonnes of cobalt. The mine sits directly adjacent to the Mutanda Mine.
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Deziwa mine | |
| Province | Lualaba |
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Coordinates | 10°47′36″S 25°46′54″E / 10.79345565555149°S 25.7816583969706°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper Cobalt |
| History | |
| Opened | 2020 |
| Owner | |
| Company | China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (51%) Gécamines (49%) |
| Website | www |
History edit
Copperbelt minerals edit
An initial agreement was struck in 2005 between Gécamines and Platmin Congo (a subsidiary of Copperbelt Minerals) to explore Deziwa. The joint venture, Societe Minere de Deziwa et Ecaille C Sprl (Somidec) was owned 68% by Copperbelt minerals, and 32% by Gecamines.
In 2010, Zijin Mining made a $284 million bid to purchase the Deziwa and Ecaille C mines from Platmin Congo.[2] The bid was rejected by the Congelese government, who said the deal violated regulations.[3][4]
Gécamines edit
In 2013, Gécamines purchased Copperbelt Minerals' 68% stake in Deziwa and Ecaille C.[5] The purchase was financed by a $196 million loan from Dan Gertler's Fleurette Group.[6]
CNMC edit
In 2015, CNMC announced their intention to develop the site in the wake of China's Made in China 2025 policy.[7] Negotiations to develop the mine at Deziwa were taking place in 2016.[8] Construction started in May 2018, and the mine officially opened in January 2020.[9]
The mine is currently run by Société Miniere De Deziwa (Somidez), a joint venture between the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (51%) and Gécamines (49%). After a certain number of years, ownership of the mine is set to revert to Gécamines.
The $800 million deal to set up the mine has been criticized as opaque by the UK-based NGO Global Witness.[10] A 2021 report from the UK-based NGO RAID claimed regular violations of workers' rights at the mine.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Congo launches Chinese-owned Deziwa copper, cobalt mine". Mining Weekly. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ "Zijin Mining exec: Gold prices too high to last". MarketWatch. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Congo Won't Approve Zijin, CAD FUnd's Bid for Platmin". Bloomberg. 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Zijin says China, Congo will probably approve deal". China Daily Website. 2010-05-12. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Congo's Gecamines aims to build 200,000 T copper plant". Reuters. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Jones, Peter (2014-04-30). "Gertler group loaned Congo's Gecamine $196 mln for mine buyout". Reuters via Yahoo News. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Dionne Searcey, Michael Forsythe, Eric Lipton (2021-11-20). "A Power Struggle Over Cobalt Rattles the Clean Energy Revolution". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Thomas Wilson (2016-08-15). "Congo Copper Deal With China May Draw $2 Billion of Investment". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Bujakera, Stanis (2020-01-15). "Congo opens Chinese-owned Deziwa copper and cobalt mine". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Thomas Wilson (2016-05-03). "Congo Urged to Publish Details of Mining Deals". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Stone, Maddie (2022-02-15). "The harsh realities of mining cobalt for EV batteries". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-09-21.