Sammy_da_Smile
Regular
Maître Lukusa: «L’Etat perd 300000 USD de taxes par jour et Dathcom perd 1 million USD de revenu par jour»
Le dossier Lithium de Manono dans le contrat de Dathcom est toujours bloqué au niveau du Cadastre minier qui tarde à délivrer la notification y afférente. Ces propos ont été tenus par Maître Lukusa du cabinet Momentum qui représente les intérêts de la société AVZ dans ce dossier. Maître Lukusa...
zoom-eco.net
Master Lukusa: "the Congolese State loses 1 million USD per day for lack of notification of the Dathcom contract in the Manono Lithium file"
Published July 18, 2022
By Writing Maître Lukusa
Manono's Lithium file in the Dathcom contract is still blocked at the level of the Mining Registry, which is slow to issue the relevant notification.
These remarks were made by Maître Lukusa of Momentum, which represents the interests of AVZ in this case.
Mr. Lukusa is indeed requesting the intervention of the Congolese Head of State to decant this blockage which is causing the country to lose 1 million US dollars a day.
He launched this SOS during a press conference organized on Friday July 15, 2022.
"We ask the Government to allow the Mining Registry to unblock us in the notification to allow the company Dathcom and not AVZ which is a shareholder to have the opportunity to start the project, to create employment for the population of Manono and thus develop infrastructure. explained Master Lukusa.
And to add: "we lose time with this conflict, the country loses more than one million US dollars a day, which represents a loss in terms of income for the company since in the Dathcom company there is also the Congolese state. We are ready to do business. “, he said.
This press conference had the major objective of clarifying a certain number of things. It was also, according to the organizers, a way to attract the attention of the international community because there has been a lot of information that is erroneous.
“We have come to confirm that with our privileged partner La Cominière, we want the Congolese State, through the Mining Cadastre, to be able to notify us. The one that owns the mining license is the company Dathcom and AVZ is only a majority shareholder and it inspires ideas. “, affirmed Maître Lukusa of the firm Momentum.
It should be noted that the partnership involved several conditions but the most important is that AVZ should produce a feasibility study within five (5) years. And in less than three (3) years, she presented a feasibility study to Cominière which was discussed at meetings of the Board of Directors.
A decision had been made since the feasibility study was released in April 2020, it was translated into French and it was presented in August 2020 at La Cominière.
However, explains Master Lukusa, they waited from August 2020 to May 2021 without having any reaction. While the feasibility study had respected the deadline imposed by the Mining Code to transform the purchase permit into an export permit.
What do we blame AVZ for?
First, according to the information provided by Maître Georges Kapiamba, AVZ is speculating and does not have the size required to have this project.
On this subject, replies Master Lukusa, AVZ is only a partner who has a majority share in this project. Also, the JIV (Joint Venture) was never taken over by AVZ, which came and joined. It only applies what is in the Joint-Venture contract which is in particular the control at the level of the company and the distribution of positions.
Second, the feasibility study
La Cominière believes that this feasibility study is false and that it should be redone.
In reply, Maître Lukusa specifies that for Cominiere, this study should have a rate of return of 20% and AVZ has instead proposed 40%. Which is an advantage.
Third, all the steps taken are illegal and the license must be withdrawn, according to La Cominière and other critics.
On this subject, the firm Momentum specifies that they have respected all the steps in all their legality. Also, they had the obligation to raise funds, which was done.
"Today the company has more than $500 million available to kick off the 24-month first phase of mine construction and development of the plant to generate power," he said.
Master Lukusa also clarified that it has been conveyed here and there that to enter the mining sector in the DRC, one must have a big name, a big size or a certain origin.
“What is false, the Mining Code of 2002 until now has integrated the principle according to which: the first come is the first to be served. AVZ came, he respected all the conditions of Joint-Venture. He presented a world-class feasibility study and today they even raised funds. More than 500 million USD available for them to start the project. So let him start this project and you will see the rest. “, he urged.
Fourth, the Cominière is sidelined in this project
False and totally false, retorts the Momentum firm.
“We have collaborated with La Cominière for a long time in the implementation of this project and La Cominière is an integral part of the company's Board of Directors. Attendance token cards exist and we can hold them up as proof. “says Master Lukusa.
AVZ's wish for the country's interest
As the world's eyes are now on DRC's lithium for the manufacture of electric vehicles, the country would gain more if this project were allowed to start, Lukusa insisted.
Thus, he launched an appeal to the Government to allow the Mining Registry to unblock the file concerning the delivery of the notification of the contract in order to allow the company Dathcom and not AVZ which is a shareholder, to have the opportunity to start the project, to create employment for the population of Manono and allow the development of infrastructures.
He insisted that the country is wasting time with this conflict, the country is losing more than one million US dollars a day. This represents a loss in terms of revenue for the company and the Congolese State which is a partner.
The Momentum firm also says it is ready to organize field visits to prove and dismantle AVZ's good faith and its involvement in the progress of this project.
Nadine FULA
(for those invested in IXR that's featured on page 84)
