Congo in talks with Malaysia Smelting over tin foundry
The Democratic Republic of Congo is in “very advanced talks” with Malaysia Smelting Corp, the world’s third-biggest tin producer, to build a cassiterite foundry in eastern Congo, Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu said.
The factory would be built at Kalima, about 1,200 kilometers (7046 miles) east of Kinshasa, in the eastern Maniema province, Kabwelulu told a mines and infrastructure conference in the capital today.
“A protocol agreement was already signed by the Malaysian party,” he said. “The only thing remaining is the signature of the portfolio minister.”
MSC signed a deal in May with Congo, Africa’s largest tin producer, to explore mineral concessions in Maniema formerly held by the state-run Sakima mining company. Congo’s signature will result in the formation of a new joint venture to rehabilitate Sakima’s old infrastructure and boost cassiterite mining in the province, Kabwelulu said.
Congo was responsible for 15 percent of MSC’s tin output in 2010, before the company halted buying in April after the introduction of industry regulations on the trade in so-called conflict minerals from Congo. Fighting has raged in eastern Congo for more than 15 years, partly fueled by the illicit trade in natural resources.
