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DRC: Kibali invests US $ 207 million to meet its energy demand of 42 megawatts
Kibali Gold Mine, a Barrick subsidiary in the DRC, has opted to build hydroelectric plants. To meet its energy requirement of 42 megawatts, this mining company has invested 207 million US dollars. This successful experiment was shared by Andy Sambwe, electrical engineer at Kibali, at the mining operators during the second panel of DRC Mining Week, Wednesday, June 19, 2019 in Lubumbashi.
Everything stems from the observation that mining companies have a very large and growing demand for energy while SNEL, a state-owned company, is not able to fill it. Hence the need for intermediate solutions that offers benefits to the mining industry.
“Underground mines require a constant availability of electrical energy. Hence the idea for Kibali to use hydroelectric plants in addition to thermal power plants to meet its energy needs evaluated at 42 megawatts. Because, with the thermal costs expensive because of the purchase of diesel”, said Andy Sambwe.
To achieve this, Kibali Gold Mine has built three hydroelectric plants:
– The NZORO 2 power plant: built in 2012 and inaugurated in 2014 with a power of 22 megawatts on an investment of 100 million dollars.
– The Ambarau plant commissioned in 2017 with a power output of 10.7 MW with an investment of $ 57 million.
– The Azambi plant commissioned in 2018. If the first two were built by a French firm, Azambi was entirely built by the Congolese. It has a capacity of 10.3 MW with an investment of $ 50 million. To this we must add the NZORO 1 Power Plant that Kibali found on site.
The global investment of these power generation infrastructure has earned Kibali Gold Mine $ 207 million to not only close the 42 megawatt deficit but also a surplus of 2 megawatts.
“We do not intend to stop there. Two other plants are under construction. Because, the more the underground mines expect, the more energy needs increase”, revealed Andy Sambwe.
This model hailed by some should be duplicated by other mining operators pending the materialization of the Inga 3 project.
Nadine FULA
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DRC: a joint commission soon to be set up to relaunch the biometric driving licence production process
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) intends to put an end to a kingdom of unqualified vehicle drivers.
To this end, the government has just announced the imminent creation of a commission to work on the production of the biometric driving license, a process interrupted in 2017.
The Minister of Transport, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, announced, during the Council of Ministers meeting of November 1, 2024, the formation of a joint commission for this purpose.
In the minutes of the Council of Ministers, the Government states that the commission in question will bring together representatives of the Office National de l’Identification de la Population (ONIP), the Direction Générale des Recettes Administratives, Judiciaires, Domaniales et de Participations (DGRAD), and a specialist service provider. The aim was to develop and analyze a process for producing and issuing driving licenses.
During the discussions, Jean-Pierre Bemba reported that the project aims to modernize and secure the process of obtaining a driver’s license.
The introduction of biometric features, reassured the Government, will enable us to combat fraud and forged documents more effectively, enhance road safety and improve the management of driver data.
The finalization of the partnership with the service provider before the implementation of the project seems to be the last turn initiated by the national executive before the issuance of secure driving licenses.
Olivier KAFORO
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DRC: Eric Tshikuma calls for an annual grant to support UNPC reforms
National deputy Eric Tshikuma defended certain needs that he considers to be priorities and which must be included in the draft budget for fiscal year 2025. This was during the general debate that led to the admissibility of the 2025 Finance Bill by the National Assembly.
Among the priorities mentioned by this elected representative of Funa are the UNPC subsidy, the urgent needs of his Funa constituency, and the need to mobilize the resources required to provide the police with adequate equipment.
In short, he is sticking to a budget that will provide real solutions to the day-to-day challenges faced by the Congolese people.
Firstly, a subsidy for the UNPC
As a journalist and media manager, Eric Tshikuma recalls the importance of the recommendations of the États généraux de la Communication et des Médias in 2022.
At that time, the President of the Republic invited the Government to support the reform process of the Union Nationale de la Presse du Congo (UNPC) following its Congress.
National deputy Eric Tshikuma believes that this structure needs an annual subsidy, to ensure its smooth running and the implementation of reforms to clean up the media landscape.
Secondly, the priority needs of his constituency of Funa in Kinshasa.
Concerned about his base, he points out that in
a budget of 49,846.8 billion CDF, up 21.6% on the previous year, it’s only natural to think about strengthening public security.
National deputy Eric Tshikuma highlights the specific and urgent issues facing the people of Kinshasa, and particularly those of Funa, his electoral district. These concerns include issues of public safety, the lack of equipment and means of mobility for the police, and the shortage of staff in police stations and sub-stations. In addition, he insists on the fight against erosion heads, the cleaning up of rivers – notably Ndjili, Kalamu and Makelele – and the drainage of gutters.
Thirdly, mobilize the necessary resources to provide the police with equipment.
Against the backdrop of a significant increase in investment appropriations in this draft budget, rising from 15.1% in 2024 to 48.4% in 2025, and a 25.2% rise in security spending, Eric Tshikuma notes the need for the Government to mobilize the necessary resources to provide the police with equipment and mobility. This will solve the problem of understaffing and improve working conditions for officers in police stations and sub-stations, including his base in Funa. He also recommends the allocation of funds to local security committees to ensure their proper functioning.
As far as erosion control is concerned, the elected representative of Funa is calling for sufficient funding to enable the relevant departments – such as OVD and OR – to become fully involved.
“The central government must provide financial support to provinces such as Kinshasa, which has more than 300 erosion sites, a large proportion of which are in Funa (notably Selembao and Makala)”, he insists.
With regard to the cleaning of rivers – Ndjili, Kalamu, and Makelele – and the drainage of gutters in Kinshasa, including in Funa, MP Tshikuma felt that the funds provided for in the draft 2025 budget remain symbolic and largely insufficient to cover a regular annual cleaning plan.
“We recommended an increase in funding to enable government services to intervene upstream, and thus avoid the floods that are hitting the people of Kinshasa,” he explains.
Still in line with the day-to-day needs of the Congolese people, he turned his attention to the question of degraded routes and roads.
“We have suggested that certain impassable routes be included among the government’s priorities. These include the RN3 (Bukavu-Walikale- Kisangani), Avenue de Libération (Bambole-Prison centrale de Makala-Marché de Selembao), and Avenue du Tourisme/Nzela ya mayi (Mimosas-Mont Ngaliema) in Kinshasa”, he declares.
National deputy Eric Tshikuma reassures us that he and his colleagues will be monitoring the progress of projects linked to the funds generated by the renegotiation of the Chinese contract.
In his capacity as a member of the Ecofin and Budgetary Control Commission, Eric Tshikuma intends to work actively with his colleagues to examine the 2025 Finance Bill in depth, with a view to making judicious improvements.
The Finance Bill 2025 was presented by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. It is balanced in revenue and expenditure at 49,846.8 billion Congolese francs (CDF), an increase of 21.6% on the 2024 budget.
Nadine FULA
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DRC: total public securities outstanding amounted to CDF 2,624.8 billion at October 24, 2024
The Congolese government’s total outstanding public debt reached 2,624.8 billion Congolese francs (CDF) on October 24, 2024, reflecting improved public debt management in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This figure reflects the Government’s commitment to mobilizing financial resources to support its development projects, while effectively managing its obligations.
The results of the October 22, 2024 auction show that the Treasury raised USD 55 million out of an expected USD 50 million for two-year Treasury Bonds. This success is the result of strong demand, with bids reaching USD 75 million. This indicates growing investor interest in Congolese government securities.
At the same time, the Government raised all the bids received for the Obligations indexées du Trésor, totalling 5 billion Congolese francs (CDF), whereas the amount announced was 50 billion Congolese francs (CDF). This underperformance can be explained by the instability of the Congolese franc against the US dollar in recent years.
In terms of repayments, the Treasury repaid a total of 2,469.6 billion Congolese francs (CDF), including 1,532.3 billion CDF in Treasury Bills and 937.3 billion CDF in Treasury Bonds. These repayments are essential to maintain investor confidence and ensure liquidity on the market.
The total outstanding amount of government securities is a key indicator of the country’s financial health.
Year-on-year, it reflects the Government’s efforts to diversify its sources of financing and reduce its dependence on traditional tax revenues. This is particularly important in an uncertain global economic climate.
The economic situation in the DRC remains complex, with challenges linked to budget management and inflation. The country’s authorities must navigate between the need to invest in development and the prudent management of public debt.
Increasing the stock of government securities could be seen as a strategy to attract more foreign investment.
In the future, the Congolese government should continue to strengthen its public debt issuance strategy. This includes not only improved issuance conditions, but also transparency in the management of the funds raised. Clear communication with investors will be essential to maintain their confidence.
Transparency in the management of public securities is crucial to avoid problems of corruption and ensure that funds are used efficiently. In addition, the Government must put in place robust mechanisms to monitor the use of resources and report back to citizens.
The DRC government should also consider organizing regular forums with investors to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with public securities. This could help strengthen relations between the public and private sectors and foster a positive investment climate.
The overall stock of public securities in the DRC reflects the Government’s increasing commitment to improving its financial management and attracting investment. However, it is imperative that these efforts are accompanied by increased transparency and effective communication with stakeholders.
The road to sustainable financial management is still long, but these recent developments represent a step in the right direction.
Mitterrand MASAMUNA
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