At the DRC-China Economic Forum: Kizito PAKABOMBA reveals to investors the opportunities of the Congolese mining sector
The considerable assets of the Congolese mining sector were highlighted during the DRC-China Economic Forum held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in Beijing.
Very determined to bail out his sector, the Minister of Mines, Kizito PAKABOMBA, also presented to Chinese investors the many opportunities to be seized in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He also reminded the participants in the Beijing forum that the mining sector is the main driver of economic growth and development in the DRC, directly contributing to the well-being of the populations. 
Given the advantages of the mining sector, Kizito PAKABOMBA particularly insisted on the need to keep it attractive and competitive, capable of attracting foreign investment, particularly Chinese.
During a dedicated panel, the Minister invited Chinese investors to explore the opportunities offered in various areas such as digital, agriculture, sustainable infrastructure and cities, energy, manufacturing industries as well as the exploitation and local processing of natural resources.
"The mineral resources of the DRC are mostly underexploited or unexploited.
This reality has led the Government, through the Ministry of Mines, to adopt a development strategy based on three approaches: the discovery of new deposits, adding value to commercial mining products, and promoting investments in basic infrastructure," said Kizito PAKABOMBA.
He insisted on the fact that these approaches open up promising prospects for investors who see the DRC as a favorable destination for the development of profitable and sustainable projects.
Very lucid in his presentation, the Minister of Mines unveiled several strategic projects identified and budgeted, for which investors are actively sought.
These projects include:
- the establishment of a steelmaking entity in the great Orientale Province and in Kasai.
- the development of phosphate resources in Kongo-Central.
- the installation of a pyrometallurgical entity for the treatment of 3T.
- the development of geothermal deposits.
- the exploitation of common construction materials and industrial minerals.
- the establishment of a plant for the treatment of impure cobalt hydroxide to produce precursors for energy storage in lithium-ion batteries.
- the creation of a plant for the production of electrolytic manganese dioxide for the manufacture of batteries.
- the exploitation of nickel-chrome in Nkonko and Lutshatsha in the province of Kasai-Central, where resources have been estimated at 800 million tonnes of nickel ore at an average grade of 1.10%, and 13 million tonnes of chrome ore at a grade of 3.5%.
This first DRC-China economic forum, which opened on Monday, September 2 in Beijing, marks a crucial step in bilateral relations between the two countries.
"The mineral resources of the DRC are mostly underexploited or unexploited.
China, through some of its companies, has already been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo for several years, where it has been investing in the mining sector.
Several contracts were rediscussed and signed between the Congolese and Chinese governments last year.
mediacongo
