DRC Mines Ministry backs ITRI cassiterite traceability project (12 Oct 2009)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister of Mines, Martin Kabwelulu, has backed ITRI’s supply chain monitoring scheme aimed at identifying the sources of tin ore mined in the country’s eastern provinces.  The ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative (iTSCi) was launched in July and aims to ensure that revenue from tin sales does not benefit armed groups.

Paul Maboila Yenga, a special advisor to the Ministry of Mines, confirmed that the ITRI proposals will be integrated into government activities to set up traceability of tin, columbo-tantalite and wolframite, and is seen to complement both the Ministry’s current plans to work with the UN mission in the DRC to establish secure trading centres in the region, and the stabilisation plan for eastern DRC.

The provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema are the main cassiterite mining provinces within the DRC.  All mining operations for cassiterite in these areas are by artisanal means.  There is no formalised mining of cassiterite in the DRC.  The ITRI estimate of tin supply from the region in 2008 is 15,500t, representing around 6% of world mine production.

Russia-China joint Siberian plan (11 Oct 2009)

The Presidents of Russia and China have agreed to carry out joint exploitation of raw material deposits in Siberia under a 2009-2010 cooperation programme.  Metals likely to be included in the project are tin, lead and copper.

Indonesia local government responds to miners’ protests (09 Oct 2009)

Indonesia’s South Bangka government will allow small miners to resume mining provided they fulfil all permit requirements after about 2,000 independent tin miners and merchants took to the streets to protest against a recent police crackdown on illegal mining.  The move could help increase supplies of tin ore to independent smelters.


(Source:  ITRI 19 October 2009)
 

Help this site to stay free & run by buying me a cup of coffee!mfBeer Joomla! Plugin