The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended operations at a Chinese-operated mining site in the southern part of the country following a spill, Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba announced late on Thursday.
Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM), which primarily sources copper and cobalt from the Central African nation, is a subsidiary of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt (603799.SS).
Watum said in a post on X that he traveled to Lubumbashi, Congo’s second-largest city, after learning about a spill from the CDM site that had affected several neighborhoods.
He stated that the company had failed to meet environmental standards, resulting in water pollution and exposing nearby residents to serious health risks.
The mining operations have been suspended for three months, with the possibility of an extension if deemed necessary, according to Reuters.
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“CDM must fully repair the environmental damage, ensure the remuneration of its staff, compensate the affected populations, and strictly comply with the requirements of the Mining Code,” Watum said, adding that an investigation will be launched into the incident.
Congo, which produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, had previously frozen exports of the metal in February to tighten supply and push up global prices.
Authorities lifted the export ban on October 16, allowing shipments to resume under a quota system.
However, industry sources told Reuters last month that cobalt producers are still awaiting government approval to restart exports.
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Image Credit: Harvard Kennedy School
