Why Alphamin relaunches its activities in the DRC
On 9 April 2025, Alphamin Resources announced the gradual resumption of its production activities at the Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in North Kivu province. In a statement, the company stated that the decision followed the withdrawal of the “armed groups” in the area.
A few days ago, the M23 rebels and their Rwandan supporters moved from the city of Walikale, 48 kilometres from the mine, towards Nyabiondo and Masisi, more than 130 kilometres east of the mining site.
Believing that the safety of its employees and subcontractors was no longer guaranteed, Alphamin had decided, a month earlier, to temporarily suspend its operations in Bisie. At the time, the rebels were in Kashebere, 172 kilometres from the site.
The resumption of operations comes at a time when the armed groups are closer to the mine, suggesting that other factors may have influenced the company’s decision.
American interests
It can now be said that the revival of Alphamin’s activities in Bisie has been encouraged by the US government.
“It
was very sad to see them suspend their operations ... We definitely encourage them to resume operations,” said Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, at a press conference held on April 9 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Massad Boulos then completed a multi-day visit to the Great Lakes region.
According to the US State Department, the mission was to
“foster efforts to achieve lasting peace in the eastern DRC” and to
“promote US private sector investment in the region.”
In the global competitive environment for access to critical metals, the Bisie tin mine, which provided more than 6% of the global supply in 2024, represents a strategic challenge for US interests.
Alphamin Resources, which operates the site, is 57% owned by Denham Capital, an investment fund founded in 2004 and based in Massachusetts, USA.
In addition, Gerald Metals, a trader in metals and associated raw materials, remains the exclusive buyer of the production of Bisie tin until 2028, in accordance with an agreement initially concluded in 2018 and renewed in January 2024.
Founded in 1962 in the United States, this company markets all of Bisie's production, mainly for high-tech industries.
Strength market
During the temporary suspension of its operations in the DRC, Alphamin Resources continued to fuel the market, with a production of 4,270 tons in the first quarter of 2025.
But a prolonged interruption would have reduced global tin supply, especially as recent earthquakes in Myanmar – a country that provides about 10% of the world’s tin supply – have also disrupted production.
For this reason, the resumption of activities was welcomed by the International Tin Association (ITA), which believes that it should help to avoid the high tension feared in the second quarter on this market.
With the announcement of the resumption of Alphamin Resources’ business in the DRC, the price of the raw material fell: the ton of tin was traded at 33,650 dollars on the London Stock Exchange, compared to 34,930 dollars when the Bisie mine was announced.
Despite the suspension of its operations in March, Alphamin’s stock has increased by more than 27 per cent since March 13, and ended the Toronto Stock Exchange at 0.77 on April 9, 2025.
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