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Cobalt

Some 60% of the world's cobalt reserves are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while other African nations, including Zambia, Uganda, Botswana, Namibia, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Guinea also hold resources of this sought-after metal used in the growing electric battery market.

Zambia
Nomination of a new ambassador to Zambia raises questions

The former head of the French interior ministry's EU department Jean Mafart, who was identified in a 2022 media investigation, is conveniently poised to be appointed ambassador to Zambia.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 28.08.2023

The former director of European and international affairs at the Ministry of the Interior, Jean Mafart.

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

In June, the army conducted investigations to find out who is behind the artisanal diggers working on ERG's mining permits. The names of presidential family members and a cooperative belonging to Lualaba province's acting governor came up during on-site interviews.

Subscribers only Mining 28.07.2023

ERG CEO Benedikt Sobotka and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi.

DRC
Sama Lukonde's government plans major budget cut in 2024

The DRC authorities are forecasting a slight fall in growth for 2024, to around 6.4%, due to a drop in the price of raw materials. The upshot of this is a reduction in the budget forecast from $16bn to $14bn.

Subscribers only Finance 20.07.2023

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining poised to start mining in November with Yaounde's backing

Backed by mines minister Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Nkamouna cobalt and nickel mining project is back on track. Sinohydro's engineers are set to be back at work at the future mine in four months' time, while Phoenix Mining is in talks with traders and refineries in Europe and North America.

Subscribers only Mining 27.06.2023

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa turns to the mining companies for fresh funds

As it struggles to balance its books despite record revenues last year, Kinshasa is looking to the mining sector to help it improve its finances. The government is using every means at its disposal, including a tax on exceptional profits and an increase in Chinese companies' royalty payments.

Subscribers only Mining 21.06.2023

President of the DRC Felix Tshisekedi, 4 February 2023.

Cameroon, DRC, Gabon
Eramet rethinks its African mining strategy

The French mining company run by Christel Bories has been revising its plans for expansion on the continent beyond its home base in Gabon, political uncertainty in Guinea, DRC and Burkina having prompted it to abandon its nickel, lithium and manganese ambitions there.

Free access Mining 09.06.2023

Spotlight | DRC, United States
Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

KaLeigh Long, a former lobbyist from Oklahoma, has turned her hand to refining battery metals. Her contacts within the Republican establishment have helped her raise funds to build a plant in her home state. And her connections in Kinshasa have enabled her to forge crucial links for sourcing ore.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 02.06.2023

Westwin Elements CEO KaLeigh Long at the Cobalt Congress 2023.

DRC
Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

The former Bolloré executive Eric Kalala is preparing to take the helm at the Entreprise Générale de Cobalt. With this appointment, the Congolese president hopes to breathe new life into the Gécamines subsidiary, which has been somewhat neglected since its creation in 2019.

Subscribers only Mining 29.05.2023

Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi in Beijing on 26 May 2023.

DRC
Old coltan dispute stirs up trouble for Traxys

The multinational commodities trader is embroiled in a legal fight with one of its former ore suppliers in the DRC over a delivery that was allegedly never made. The case has prompted the authorities to take a closer look at Traxys's activities in the country.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 25.05.2023

Morocco
Managem aims to be key battery metals player via partnerships with Glencore and Renault

The Moroccan group is to start producing recycled cobalt in July at its plant near Marrakesh in partnership with Swiss trading giant Glencore. It is also finalising studies into the production of cobalt sulphate for use by Renault in the manufacture of its electric batteries.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 25.05.2023

Zimbabwe
Uncertainty surrounds future of ERG's platinum stake

Harare is preparing to withdraw the Todal platinum project from the Kazakh Eurasian Resources Group. The most likely scenario is a takeover of the asset by Kuvimba, a holding company that is already struggling to raise funds because of its alleged links to businessman Kuda Tagwirei, who is under US sanctions.

Subscribers only Mining 25.04.2023

Central Africa
Beveraggi gains upper hand over Katumbi in NB Mining Africa dispute

The mining services firm remains at the heart of a protracted legal dispute between the French entrepreneur and the former governor of Katanga. The battle has recently swung in Beveraggi's favour and he is now recovering funds from Ecobank and Gécamines.

Subscribers only Business 21.04.2023

DRC
China's MMG Kinsevere launches arbitration against Gécamines

China Minmetals' DR Congo subsidiary MMG Kinsevere has launched an arbitration procedure in Paris against its partner, Gécamines. It wants $145m from the state-owned company, which it claims is blocking the expansion of its Kinsevere mine.

Subscribers only Mining 19.04.2023

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining settles differences with Yaoundé so as to resume cobalt project

The American buyer of the Nkamouna mining project is working to mend fences with its public partner, the SNI, and the Cameroonian authorities, which had been damaged by the previous owner's procrastinations. After an audit by Deloitte, the firm now has to patch things up with the tax authorities and recruit a new management team.

Subscribers only Mining 12.04.2023

Spotlight | DRC
Abu Dhabi's grand gold and coltan designs in the DRC

Felix Tshisekedi's private office is radically overhauling the Congolese mining sector while putting the finishing touches to an unprecedented partnership with the United Arab Emirates, which has expressed an interest in a dozen mining permits.

Subscribers only Mining 06.04.2023

United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed and his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi.

DRC
Kinshasa hones Sicomines strategy ahead of talks with Chinese partner

President Felix Tshisekedi has asked his ministers and advisers to set out the key requests the government will take to the Chinese part of Sicomines. The two sides need to meet to negotiate a 'review' of its mining convention.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 27.03.2023

DRC
Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

The discovery of major fraud in Trafigura's nickel business, which could cost the Swiss firm up to $577m, pushed its trader Socrates Economou towards the exit. Mehdi Wetterwald and Daniel von Arx are taking over from him and will head to DR Congo to secure the group's supplies of cobalt.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 15.03.2023

DRC
Albert Yuma's young guard take helm of DRC's Gécamines

The state miner's new chairman and general managers appointed by Kinshasa to give Gécamines a new lease of life were all in the good books of the firm's all-powerful former boss Albert Yuma Mulimbi. They also each worked at one time for private mining firms operating in DRC, such as AngloGold and Glencore.

Subscribers only Mining 08.03.2023

Spotlight | Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
Harare acts to get back on the lucrative Durban-Copperbelt freight route

The opening of the Kazungula Bridge, which connects Zambia to Botswana, has robbed Zimbabwe of its status as a key gateway between the port of Durban and the Copperbelt. Deprived of significant revenue, Harare is preparing its counter-attack with the help of a handful of bankers.

Subscribers only Infrastructure, Mining 07.03.2023

An aerial view of the newly built Kazungula bridge over the Zambezi river in Kazungula, Botswana, on 10 May 2021.

DRC
DRC mines minister N'Samba Kalambayi turning to Japan

DRC sent its mines minister and a Tshisekedi adviser to Japan seeking partners to bolster Congolese mining exploration.

Subscribers only Mining 20.02.2023

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Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Cobalt

Zambia
Nomination of a new ambassador to Zambia raises questions

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC
Sama Lukonde's government plans major budget cut in 2024

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining poised to start mining in November with Yaounde's backing

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa turns to the mining companies for fresh funds

Cameroon, DRC, Gabon
Eramet rethinks its African mining strategy

Spotlight | DRC, United States
Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

DRC
Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

DRC
Old coltan dispute stirs up trouble for Traxys

Morocco
Managem aims to be key battery metals player via partnerships with Glencore and Renault

Zimbabwe
Uncertainty surrounds future of ERG's platinum stake

Central Africa
Beveraggi gains upper hand over Katumbi in NB Mining Africa dispute

DRC
China's MMG Kinsevere launches arbitration against Gécamines

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining settles differences with Yaoundé so as to resume cobalt project

Spotlight | DRC
Abu Dhabi's grand gold and coltan designs in the DRC

DRC
Kinshasa hones Sicomines strategy ahead of talks with Chinese partner

DRC
Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

DRC
Albert Yuma's young guard take helm of DRC's Gécamines

Spotlight | Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
Harare acts to get back on the lucrative Durban-Copperbelt freight route

DRC
DRC mines minister N'Samba Kalambayi turning to Japan

Refine your search

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

Cobalt

Zambia Nomination of a new ambassador to Zambia raises questions

DRC Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC Sama Lukonde's government plans major budget cut in 2024

Cameroon Phoenix Mining poised to start mining in November with Yaounde's backing

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa turns to the mining companies for fresh funds

Cameroon, DRC, Gabon Eramet rethinks its African mining strategy

Spotlight | DRC, United States Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

DRC Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

DRC Old coltan dispute stirs up trouble for Traxys

Morocco Managem aims to be key battery metals player via partnerships with Glencore and Renault

Zimbabwe Uncertainty surrounds future of ERG's platinum stake

Central Africa Beveraggi gains upper hand over Katumbi in NB Mining Africa dispute

DRC China's MMG Kinsevere launches arbitration against Gécamines

Cameroon Phoenix Mining settles differences with Yaoundé so as to resume cobalt project

Spotlight | DRC Abu Dhabi's grand gold and coltan designs in the DRC

DRC Kinshasa hones Sicomines strategy ahead of talks with Chinese partner

DRC Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

DRC Albert Yuma's young guard take helm of DRC's Gécamines

Spotlight | Southern Africa, Zimbabwe Harare acts to get back on the lucrative Durban-Copperbelt freight route

DRC DRC mines minister N'Samba Kalambayi turning to Japan

Refine your search

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Zambia
Nomination of a new ambassador to Zambia raises questions

DRC
Kazakh miner ERG clashes with presidential family in Lualaba

DRC
Sama Lukonde's government plans major budget cut in 2024

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining poised to start mining in November with Yaounde's backing

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa turns to the mining companies for fresh funds

Cameroon, DRC, Gabon
Eramet rethinks its African mining strategy

Spotlight | DRC, United States
Oklahoma cobalt refiner eyes DRC's natural resources

DRC
Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

DRC
Old coltan dispute stirs up trouble for Traxys

Morocco
Managem aims to be key battery metals player via partnerships with Glencore and Renault

Zimbabwe
Uncertainty surrounds future of ERG's platinum stake

Central Africa
Beveraggi gains upper hand over Katumbi in NB Mining Africa dispute

DRC
China's MMG Kinsevere launches arbitration against Gécamines

Cameroon
Phoenix Mining settles differences with Yaoundé so as to resume cobalt project

Spotlight | DRC
Abu Dhabi's grand gold and coltan designs in the DRC

DRC
Kinshasa hones Sicomines strategy ahead of talks with Chinese partner

DRC
Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

DRC
Albert Yuma's young guard take helm of DRC's Gécamines

Spotlight | Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
Harare acts to get back on the lucrative Durban-Copperbelt freight route

DRC
DRC mines minister N'Samba Kalambayi turning to Japan