On Sunday November 17, 2024, President Félix Tshisekedi cut the symbolic ribbon to relaunch the Kipushi mining plant located 30 km from Lubumbashi, in the territory of the same name in Haut-Katanga.
With a monthly production capacity of 45,000 tonnes of zinc, this plant marks a decisive turning point for the exploitation of mining resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
At the ceremony, Mines Minister Kizito Pakabomba hailed the achievement as an emblematic example of the strategic vision of the Congolese Head of State.
“Under your enlightened leadership, the mining sector is gradually becoming a major lever for wealth creation and job creation for our people”, he declared, underlining the world-class potential of the Kipushi deposit.
A model for the future
The relaunch of the Kipushi plant is part of the dynamic structural transformation of the Congolese mining sector.
This project, which was previously at a standstill, illustrates not only the government’s desire to breathe new life into existing infrastructures, but also to attract sustainable investment.
With large-scale zinc production expected, Kipushi reinforces Haut-Katanga’s strategic role in the national economy.
For observers of the mining sector, challenges remain: “the sustainability of this revival will depend on the transparent management of revenues, the integration of local communities into the profits, and the Government’s ability to maintain a favorable environment for investors”.
Above all, this should illustrate the Congolese government’s ambition to consolidate its position as a world leader in mining resources, while transforming these riches into real drivers of socio-economic development.
Industry experts believe that the Kipushi mine, as a pilot project, should serve as a benchmark for other similar initiatives in the country.
Flory Musiswa