DRC natural resources press review of Thursday, Ocober 31, 2013

On the sale of shares of Gécamines in KCC , the Potentiel newspaper believes that there was undue agitation. According to the paper , the composition of the Board of Gecamines includes a representative of the sole Shareholder State , through the Ministry of the Portfolio. This is the eye of the government in this endeavor and yet all the media said , deadpan , that the decision was taken " without the knowledge of the government" ... duly represented in the Board. For the Potentiel, a simple check to the Department of Portfolio or in the archives of Gécamines would have seen that the government was indeed aware of the whole process and its implications.The newspaper also noted that Gecamines said that, contrary to recent speculation , the process to sell 20% to anyone not even finish yet finalized and that no decision is at this level this irreversible .
 The report of the law on the electricity passed, notifies the Observateur newspaper reports that Leon Kengo wa Dondo , President of the Upper House of Parliament, yesterday chaired a plenary session Wednesday on the review of the draft law on the electricity sector . Senators present at the meeting , were unanimously adopted the report of the Committee and infrastructure planning.

Only 9 % of the population have access to electricity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Radio Okapi says noting that the senators, who reviewed the report of the Planning Committee of the territory on the draft law on the sector electricity, deplored this Wednesday, Oct. 30 . According to the media , senators also indicated that a population of about nine million to Kinshasa, the DRC capital , only 44 % receive electricity, while electricity is a major and irreversible factors economic, cultural and technological . After diagnosis in the electricity sector , the senators felt that this was mainly due to the low coverage rate and the lack of legal framework. For them , the law under review in the Senate should remedy this situation , once passed and enacted.

According to the Commission, says for its part the Potentiel newspaper, the main innovation is the liberalization of the sector to meet the desire expressed by the Constitution in Article 48 which states: " The right to adequate housing , the right to access to drinking water and electricity are guaranteed. the law establishes the procedures for the exercise of these rights. "
 Leave the issue of electricity to the water where the Avenir newspaper reports that the Steering Committee of the reform of portfolio companies ( COPIREP ), in collaboration with experts from NODALIS , whose workshop is the goal is to make a reading of the draft concession contract Regideso . This workshop takes place in Kinshasa circle which meets several experts , delegates from the Ministry of Portfolio, Electricity and Water Resources , Finance , frames Regideso , experts SDE / Finagestion those cabinet and Nodalis those COPIREP . This part of the mission of establishing a concession contract between the Congolese government and Regideso .
 The Observateur newspaper says that during the workshop, experts from various ministries, the private sector and Regideso focused on the project concocted by Nodalis consultant preparing the arrival of other stakeholders in the sector water in the DRC and the new role to be played Regideso in the new architecture of the water sector.
 A joint venture for the production of fertilizers will be created in June 2014 in Boma , in Bas -Congo , Radio Okapi announces . According to the radio , this is the result of a partnership agreement signed Tuesday, October 29 between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC) and South Africa. The total cost of this project is estimated at thirty- nine million U.S. dollars.

In this regard, the Potentiel newspaper states that is a South African firm that the DRC has set his sights for the development of phosphate deposits in the province of Bas- Congo. Ultimately, the project, the agreement was sealed last Tuesday , is the production of fertilizers to support agriculture .

DRC natural resources press review of Wednesday, October 30, 2013

In the presence of Presidents Kabila and Jacob Zuma , the DRC and South Africa signed a treaty on Grand Inga, informs the Observateur newspaper which states that the treaty was signed by the Congolese Minister of Water Resources and Electric Bruno Kapandji Kalala and his South African colleague of Energy.Radio Okapi says that this contract provides for the purchase by the South 2500 Megawatt (MW ) Africa , more than half of the total capacity of the Inga III project estimated at 4800 MW. The construction of Inga III dam could cost around $ 8.5 billion , according to the Congolese government. The total cost is estimated at $ 12.5 billion including related fees . The start of construction is planned for October 2015 and the development of Inga III service could occur between 2020 and 2021.
In the same area and spoke of the benefits of signing an energy cooperation agreement Monday, October 28, 2013 , Forum des As reports that South Korea plans to invest in exploration for unassigned . According to the newspaper , the ideal partner for the DRC intends to participate in the future , exploration projects unallocated deposits including oil, natural gas , oil shale and associated gas."The governor of Katanga, Moïse Katumbi , asked the National Minister of Mines to order the closure of all mining companies in the province who do not pay taxes," announces Radio Okapi which reports that this application follows the appeal by the national Coordinator of the Initiative for the extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI ) to the provincial authorities to be involved in bringing the companies to submit their completed audit evidence in a short time , the risk that the DRC be removed forever from the EITI report 2011.

Returning to tax evasion on forest taxes reported by the NGO Global Witness, Forum des As indicates that the agents of the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism in the dock .

DRC natural resources press review of Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The DRC is a risk of a final delisting of Initiative report for transparency in the extractive industries ( Itie ) 2011 , warned the National Coordinator of the structure , Professor Jeremiah Mack Dumba , announces Radio Okapi said that the National Coordinator asks the political authorities of Katanga to be actively involved to force mining companies in the province to file , within a short time , their forms of audit evidence. According to him, out of the 83 companies included in this scope, only 23 did. If others do not run , the country will be severely punished , he has warned.

Jacob Zuma in Kinshasa to finalize Inga III , informs the newspaper Congo News underlining that " finally, Inga III materializes with the signing this morning by the South African president of the Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the most trusted hydropower in Africa . "

According to the same media , the managing director of the Cohydro , Birindwa Lutshuera , was still being held in the facilities of the National Intelligence Agency ( Anr ) - inside in front of the Government House . According to union sources , he is not entitled to visits , even from members of his family.

The Ecofin Agency announces that Anglo-French oil company Perenco announced on October 25 that its drilling campaign started in April 2013 on four oil fields off the coast of the DR Congo will continue until March 2014. " The drilling was undertaken on four oilfields. This is the revival of an existing well that has never been put into production on the field Lubi , two development wells on the field Liboa , an appraisal well and an injection of water on the field Tshiala and an exploration of the field Moko " well, the company said in a statement. London-based Perenco said in June 2012 that the volume of oil extracted from its producing fields in the DR Congo has reached 28,000 barrels per day.

The government relies on the contribution of the mining sector to achieve the growth target it has set for 2013 . Strategic Troika addressed the issue during its meeting yesterday Monday, October 28 , the Potentiel newspaper says.

Do not overlook the forest sector which according to the edition of Kinshasa of Dépêches de Brazzaville , the organization Global Witness denounced tax evasion and tax arrangements responsible for heavy losses in the Congolese treasury. Between 2011 and 2012 , it estimated the losses at more than ten million U.S. dollars. Based on these quantitative elements , the NGO urged the Prime Minister of the DRC to conduct an inter urgent investigation to examine the economic, social and environmental losses associated with industrial logging . Global Witness , the newspaper said , we must arrive at alternative ways of forest management can lead the DRC towards sustainable development models .

RDC- South Korea 's energy and mining cooperation underway, announces Prospérité daily Prosperity who writes : "This is from Saturday 26 October a South Korean delegation led by Chae Hee- Bong, CEO south Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy stays in Kinshasa. This official mission is in line with the strengthening of cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the DRC. relevant sectors are mining, oil and infrastructure.

DRC natural resources press review of Monday, October 28, 2013

Congo News newspaper reports that the Chairman of the Board of Directors ( PCA ) of Gécamines , Albert Yuma, lied about the sale of 20 % in the company of Kamoto Copper and Cobalt ( Kcc) . Broadcast on RFI , the PCA CMG had suggested that the selection process was underway. And later against the public outcry, the CMG said that the proceedings had been suspended , the newspaper said , which indicates that , according to sources familiar with the matter, Gecamines has already sold its assets to Dan Gertler.

The process of selling shares of Gécamines considered opaque, indicates the edition of Kinshasa of Dépêches de Brazzaville writes : " According to some NGOs active in the mining sector , Gecamines undertook this transaction to sell its shares the mining company KCC without the knowledge of the DRC government , its sole shareholder . in their joint statement issued on October 24 , these associations including the Congolese League fight against corruption , report creation discreetly by Gecamines , a subsidiary which is registered in Mauritius and wonder about his opportunity. " According to the newspaper for these NGOs , Gecamines must follow transparent procedures in case of sale of its assets . They also require a prior independent review is posted to know the net present value of the assets to be divested especially since no estimate is made of the current and future debt represented 20% in Kcc .

On the matter of $ 10 million sunk into an unexecuted order, the managing director of the Congolese hydrocarbons ( Cohydro ) under arrest , reports the Phare newspaper, which highlights that despite the information received by it and reports of the descent of a team of investigators from the national Intelligence Agency ( Anr ) duly authorized in his office , the man has chosen the path of active resistance. He began exploit the trade union delegation , which took care of barricade all entrances of the company.

ANR agents had to resort to firing in the air against staff Cohydro before taking the CEO Birindwa Lutshuera forcibly into their facilities in front of the Government House , also indicates the Congo News newspaper .

In another chapter, Radio Okapi reports that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomes the decision of the British government opposes the exploitation of oil in the Virunga National Park in North Kivu . To believe a press release from WWF released Thursday, October 24 , the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs , Mark Simmonds , expressed his government's position in writing , in response to the question a member of the British parliament. WWF welcomes this decision and think that the position of the British government is beneficial.

The Congolese News Agency ( ACP ) announces that the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) organized on Thursday in Kinshasa , a seminar REDD + FORAFAMA ( Support for the sustainable management of the Congo Basin and the Amazon Basin Project Brazil) , alongside the Forest Governance forum scheduled on 28 and 29 October. The "Support to the sustainable management of the Congo Basin and the Amazon Basin Brazilian forests" project was launched in 2009 in favor of these two largest tropical forest in the world , with the general objective of preserving biodiversity these forest areas and the limitation of emissions of carbon dioxide , fighting against deforestation and forest degradation.

A network of women in the management of natural resources in the making , the newspaper indicating that the Phare for five days , women parliamentarians , mining , civil society, the media and local communities attended a session training on " the governance of mining , forestry and oil resources in the DRC ." At the end of this workshop , participants made ​​women of Kinshasa, Katanga and Bas-Congo took the option of creating a "network of women on issues of natural resources."

On the same chapter , the Potentiel newspaper notes that for participation and involvement in the sector , participating in training on natural resource governance want to organize a network.

On another note, the Potentiel newspaper reports that the Congolese education system will enter fully into the Bologna process by aligning programs of Higher Education , University and Scientific Research ( ESURS ) to LMD format. The pilot training curricula in management of renewable natural resources have been validated during a two-day workshop organized by the Ministry of ESURS , and this in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism and the German cooperation ( Giz ), through its program of biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management ( Pbf ) . This will give the floor within a few years of executives and experts in the management of natural resources, without neglecting the protection of the environment and the creation of jobs and wealth , said the Minister of ESURS .

DRC natural resources press review of Friday, October 25, 2013

The railways Compagnies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola have available to mine operators for a railway route transactions mining products through the port of Lobito , in Angola, informs the Prosperité newspaper. According to the paper , this is from the province of Katanga that the railway will serve as a solution to the Congolese mineral products abroad, through the port of Angola. Basically, this rail line will help mine operators to send their goods in the city of Lobito , located on the Atlantic coast of Angola. On this occasion , a meeting is in the offing between the leaders of the National Railway Company of Congo ( SNCC ) and CFB ( Caminhos de Ferro Benguelo ) to materialize this ambitious project. It should be noted that several sharing sessions will be held in the coming days to discuss and define short-term conditions for the launch of such project work.

Remain in Katanga where there was paralysis of economic activities. " The FEC on his threat ," as the Potentiel that says " Katanga branch of the Federation of Enterprises of Congo ( FEC ) has declared a general strike , paralyzing economic activities in the province. Fec / Katanga and protests against the abuses suffered by its members as a result of a fact-finding mission conducted into place by the General Prosecutor of the Republic.

Radio Okapi  confirms this information by stating that several gas stations, shops, banks and other large commercial spaces are closed in several cities of Katanga since Thursday, October 24 . Traders responded to the strike call of the Federation of Enterprises of Congo ( FEC ) protesting against the sealing of commercial establishments and some mining companies by a committee of the Prosecutor General of the Republic. This commission from Kinshasa accuses traders whose establishments were sealed customs and tax fraud as well as corruption

However, a few hours later, Radio Okapi reported that economic activities have resumed timidly Thursday, October 24 afternoon in Lubumbashi after the paralysis observed in the morning. Some service stations are operational again. This recovery follows the announcement of Federation of Enterprises of Congo ( FEC ) / Katanga , read the beginning of the afternoon by his vice president , calling on all its members to resume their normal activities. At the same time , the FEC / Katanga announced the reopening of commercial and mining companies sealed last week by a commission from Kinshasa .

On another topic , the Phare publishes a long folder named " Cohydro LTI : scam confirmed." The newspaper said that on October 17 he had published information about a case of fraud suffered by Cohydro ( The Congolese Hydrocarbons ) , after non-performance by its South African partner nebula (LTI Labohlano Trading Investment PTY ) of an order of petroleum products of the order of 10 million dollars. The newspaper published an update of the Embassy of South Africa in the DRC indicating that its role was limited to certify that Mr Themba Masingi Cornelius , representative of the firm LTI was indeed a topic South African . As for the aforementioned negotiated with Cohydro transaction, this diplomatic mission assumes no responsibility.

"Starting rehabilitation pilot fishing center of Kinkole " announces the publication of Kinshasa of Dépêches de Brazzaville indicates that in the 2013 crop year - 2014 , the government has allocated eighty thousand U.S. dollars which some funds will restore the breath to center. According to the newspaper , the ceremony marking the start of construction took place on October 22 at the site of the pilot fishing center .

The same media reports that the Congolese Ministry of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development and the Economic Community of Central African States ( CEEAC ) organized in partnership with NEPAD , a workshop upgrade " monitoring and evaluation on key indicators of sustainable management of land and water resources in Central Africa.

DRC natural resources press review of Thursday, october 24, 2013

The speech of the head of state yesterday before Congress dominates the news of the day. Note however that the Phare newspaper announces the 6 to 9 November 2013 an international trade show and industry in Kinshasa. According to the newspaper, the first edition of the show is called "International Trade Exhibition General DR Congo" and more than 100 companies from 10 countries will meet in Kinshasa.
The Avenir newspaper returns to the state of Mining Bakwanga (MIBA), the mining company Kilo-Moto (Sokimo) and textile company Kisangani (Sotexki), combined with the increased capacity of transport and storage of petroleum products that caught the attention of the government, during the meeting of the theme Group, productive sector, chaired Monday, October 21, 2013 by the Prime Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon.

DRC natural resources press review of Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The National Assembly voted a law for the recovery of some companies , informs Radio Okapi . According to the UN radio , companies Sotexki , Gecamines Minocongo , QuoVadis , PLZ Brikin and some 200 other vital industries at risk for years, will be supported by the Congolese government for their recovery. Law supporting their rescue was reviewed and approved Monday, October 22 in the National Assembly . While welcoming the government's initiative , some national MPs are concerned about its feasibility. For the member Juvenal Monobo facing the importance of this initiative , we need a clear plan for the restructuring.

In the same order , the Potentiel newspaper says , on the proposal of the Minister of Portfolio, the government is preparing a rescue plan for the MIBA , the Sokimo and Sotexki . According to the paper , the proposal took place during the meeting of the Government of thematic group on Monday. At the same time , the newspaper said , the government has long dwelt on the need for a new transmission line between the fuel station Ango - Ango (Bas- Congo) and Kinshasa.

The Federation of Congolese Enterprises ( FEC ) threatens to paralyze economic activity in Katanga, announces Potentiel writing that the investigation carried out for more than a week in the Katanga province by the General Prosecutor of the Republic is unwelcome in areas of economic operators in the province. They threaten to go on strike to protest against what they consider to rightly , as a new form of harassment . On site in Katanga, it is reported that investigators from the Prosecutor General of the Republic were diverted from their mission, originally limited to the mining sector, the now extends over all mining operators in the province, sector confused.
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" The ore of Lweshi operated illegally by multinationals ," the Prosperité newspaper who quotes the national deputy Pico Mwepu. According to him, the newspaper writes, ore Lweshi in Rutshuru territory in the province of North Kivu , is operated by Rwanda and the M23, with the blessing of predatory multinational companies specializing in the trade of blood minerals.

The Potentiel newspaper reports the holding the 5th Ministerial Conference on Environment from 17 to 18 October 2013 in Gaborone (Botswana) where , serving as vice -president of the organization on behalf of the sub- region of Central Africa, the DRC delegation was led by the Minister of the Environment, Bavon N'sa Mputu . According to the paper , the objective of this session was threefold: to provide a platform for African countries to strengthen their common negotiating position in order to get the best possible outcome of talks on climate change ; operationalize the Rio +20 process through the development and implementation of regional flagship programs to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, strengthening and enhancing the United Nations Environment Programme , in order to see its role in the follow-up to Rio + 20 .

According to the same media , in South Kivu , indigenous pygmies demand access to their land in the Kahuzi -Biega park. Speaking to the press yesterday in Kinshasa , pygmy chiefs , led by the NGO " Environment, Natural Resources and Development ( ERND ) " demanded the recognition of their rights to the land they have , their reintegration and allocation damages for the harm suffered. The newspaper reports that they have initiated legal action against the Republic and the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN ) .

DRC natural resources press review of Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The decision of Gécamines to sell its shares in the Kamoto copper mine returned in the columns of some newspapers . This is the case of the Phare newspaper titles "Mines Kamoto : Gécamines tries to explain the process " According to the newspaper , citing a statement issued by Albert Yuma, the chairman of the board of Gecamines . " sale of its shares in Kamoto is consistent with strategic Development Plan 2012 - 2016 of Gécamines whose main objective is to reposition the company as the world's largest copper producer and implies that the company refocus on core assets in which the Company holds a majority interest . "

" Gécamines suspicions of corruption around the mining project transfer ," announces the Manchette newspaper which is based on some passages from a statement by the British NGO Global Witness newspaper. " While Gecamines did not inform the State of the possibility of a sale of KCC is extremely alarming ." According to the newspaper , " Global Witness is concerned that Gécamines is proving to be a financial black hole at the heart of the Congolese mining system."

On another matter , the Prospérité newspaper reports that in a new report , the ADB has multiple opportunities for shale gas in Africa. " Many African countries are rich in oil shale potentially viable that they were exploited could lead to a drop in gas prices , a wider use of natural gas, reducing emissions of greenhouse gas emissions in for energy production and economic benefits , " the newspaper reports .

Like every Monday, the Prime Minister chaired the meeting last Monday strategic Troika , the Avenir newspaper says, in relation to natural resources, states that " compared to last week , the prices of major raw materials exported the DRC have experienced divergent trends .: The copper price has appreciated slightly by 0.84 % to USD 7,171.50 per tonne against USD 7112.00 As in cobalt, it continued to decline and stood at USD 30,539.25 USD 30,759.75 per tonne against . regarding petroleum products , the price of the barrel is down on both the London market than New York. " 18 October 2013, prices ranged USD 110.15 ( -0.88 %) and $ 100.87 ( -0.89 %), respectively in the two markets . For agricultural products , the behavior of the euro-dollar exchange had a positive impact on the prices of major grain products quoted in euros. October 17 , 2013, they are located at USD 15.42 ( 1.25 % ), USD 686.50 ( 0.15 %) and $ 163.05 ( 0.97 %) for rice, wheat and corn.

The Congolese News Agency (ACP ) reports that the National Assembly plenary session examined Monday in second reading for adoption , two bills concerning particular system of special economic zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo and laying down rules the terms and conditions to rescue the domestic industry at risk.

DRC natural resources press review of Monday, October 21, 2013

Gécamines may " reconsider its decision to sell its interest " in the copper mine Kamoto Copper Co. ( KCC) in which it holds 20% of shares , informs the Agency Ecofin reports that in a statement released Friday , the state company confirmed that a tender process was launched for the sale of its 20% minority shares in the KCC but it intends to stop the process . "The process is ongoing and at this stage Gécamines may reverse its decision to sell its stake ," said she warned in this release. According to AFP, the agency said , the process would have been launched without the knowledge of the Government of the DRC which values ​​to $ 1.4 billion from the Gecamines copper mine. The mine is located in the south -east of the DRC, Katanga Province, and is 75% owned by Swiss Glencore - Xstrata group ..

The Director - Head of Department of CITES / DRC ( the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ) , Leonard Muamba Kanda , lamented Friday illicit trade and fraudulent export to abroad , completely protected from the DRC , with the complicity of some officers operating in certain border crossings animals , announces the Congolese News Agency ( ACP ) . The Chief Executive noted that several totally protected animals in the DRC and leave the country in the eastern provinces of the country, in the Bas- Congo, Equateur and Bandundu province , without an export permit issued by its organ, the only institution in the country authorized to issue such a document , the agency reports.

Through a single point of petroleum products, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise ( LDB / Katanga ) , is placed in first position, the Avenir  newspaper announces. According to the newspaper , it turns out that it is still the customs Katanga with FC 878380519995 , Bas -Congo and Kinshasa with FC 782846687004 City with 544 012 104 529 CF come to mind

DRC natural resources press review of Friday, October 18, 2013

The air became unbreathable for students and teachers of the institute Makimbilizo Kasumbalesa , nearly 90 km from Lubumbashi , Katanga , announced Radio Okapi that spilled sulfuric acid for 20 years by the Company industrial and mining development in Congo ( Sodimico ) near the school eventually pollute the air. According to the prefect of the college, Father Tonny , some students even bleed from the nose. He regretted that the students can not study for two hours in the morning for fear of suffocation.

On another note , according to the same radio, the Governor of Katanga, Moïse Katumbi denounced Wednesday, October 16 in Lubumbashi, the harassment of the financial authorities ' on mine operators of the province . " Katanga became almost a large dairy cow you do not want to feed ," he has said. It was the opening of the fourth edition of the Katanga mining briefing also called Case ( Partnership for Infrastructure Development in Africa).

About the electric current in the Democratic Republic of Congo , the Minister of Water Resources and Electricity, Bruno Kapanji Kalala has registered false to the widespread idea that the electric current of more benefit to neighboring countries to the DRC itself , the Observateur newspaper  reports this minister declaration: "Lately , we do not export electricity . Instead we import , specifically in the southern part of the country , especially for the mining operation . We import 100 megawatts per day either Zambia or Zimbabwe . " According to the newspaper , the Minister for Water Resources and Power, it is important for the DRC and its neighbors to evolve in interconnected power exchange networks.

The government's efforts to stabilize the business climate in the DRC are already bearing fruit . This is the case to say the growing number of operators and investors jostling at the gate of the DR Congo . The latest being Polish nationality , says the Potentiel newspaper to announce that Polish economic operators explore investment opportunities in the sectors of water and food . The news was announced Tuesday, October 15 by Mr. Bernard Bujwicki , Polish businessman and CEO Firma Bartosz Sp Bujwicki Sobiech , a firm that has invested in water supply and food .

Radio Okapi reports that the conflict on community forests delay the implementation of programs to protect the forest in the process Redd Isangi city located 125 km west of Kisangani in Orientale Province. These conflicts can be violent against villages and chiefdoms see areas on the right of enjoyment of the land , according to representatives of these communities. These attended Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October at training on the rights of local communities living in the areas of implementation of the project to fight against climate change Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation ( Redd ) .

Members of the steering committee of the National Action Water and Sanitation ( CNAEA ) Committee met on Thursday , October 17 at Kinshasa , under the supervision of the Minister of Planning, Vunabandi , informs the Potentiel newspaper which indicates that the purpose of the meeting was to assess the enforcement of the special meeting of March 6 and examine the proposed restructuring CNAEA .

The Congolese News Agency ( ACP ) announces that the week of October 20 to 26, 2013 will be devoted to the world in a campaign for the prevention of lead poisoning that can cause intellectual disabilities . According to a press release from WHO, the international week of action to prevent lead poisoning in 2013 will focus on " out of lead in paint ." During this week , WHO and UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme) encourage and facilitate efforts worldwide to eliminate lead in paints . The two UN agencies will also raise awareness of lead poisoning , highlight the efforts of countries and partners to prevent lead poisoning in children and urge other measures to eliminate lead paints.

DRC natural resources press review of Thursday, October 17, 2013

Yesterday, Wednesday, October 16, 2013 , hundreds of U.S. investors stormed the conference room of The Westland Hotel Georgetown in Washington to attend the presentation of the new program of strategic public-private partnership in the DRC. A program called " Five Star " Kinshasa was presented by the Officer in charge of Finance Minister Patrice Kitebi . Five Star Kinshasa wear these names KinPack , KinMecs , KinMic , KinMeubles and kintech . This information has been taken by some newspapers.

"By living in the USA: Minister Kitebi engages the battle processing of natural resources," the Potentiel newspaper stresses that " Five Star " will work for accompaniment battle processing natural resources.

According to the Référence Plus newspaper, the objective for the government is to foster a development approach based on local processing of natural resources whose base construction value chain , through the creation of centers of growth characterized by a multipolar mesh of economic and social activities starting from manufacturing to supply and consumption of a product or a service, since the phases of access to raw materials to the marketing of finished products, with all the effects of runoff on other activities.

Besides this, other media have raised the issue of the revision of the mining code . " The apprehensions on the revision of the Mining Code ," note the Dépêches de Brazzaville, in their edition of Kinshasa. According to the daily , the Ministry of Mines plans to submit its draft Mining Code to Parliament in March 2014. Mining fear that publishing the new regulations in the state, that is to say with a new ownership of the State, corporate profitability could decline significantly to represent only a third of its current level. Among the innovations planned , it appears that the Free State shares in new mining projects could be raised to 15 % against 35% of holding initially and eventually abandoned under pressure from mining . For the latter, some amendments pose a risk to the sector.

According to Radio Okapi , the Secretary General of the Ministry of Mines, Katanda Ngoy , assured the operators in the mining sector that this review was so professional , coordinated and balanced . He said Tuesday October 15 at Radio Okapi in response to mine operators who were concerned about this revision lower profitability. These operators have qualified in the 9th edition of the Partnership for Infrastructure Development in Africa ( Ipad) , the mining code and tax system Congolese non incentives for investors.

DR Congo: what becomes of Surestream Petroleum Ndunda block in Muanda ? It is the Agency Ecofin ask this question and gives this answer: " The British exploration company Surestream Petroleum , exploring oil fields in the territory of Muanda , 200 km west of Matadi , a " closed its doors for three weeks. " According to several sources , the central government did not renew the license for exploration and exploitation of this company for a reason that remains unknown. It is three years since the company was to exploration phase in the project. agency recalled that in September 2010 , Surestream finalized a farm-out agreement with ENI group then took 55 % stake in the block onshore Ndunda located in the coastal city of Muanda in Bas- Congo.

On another note, Radio Okapi reports that hippos have devastated three corn fields at the end of last week along the river Malemba Nkulu , Katanga . According to the Civil Society , which reports these incidents , these animals are flocking to farmers crops following the scarcity of grass, their usual food, ravaged by wildfires. For its part, the administrator of the territory called the people not to attack the protected species. At the end of August , it was the elephant , another protected species , which ravaged the fields of farmers Malemba Nkulu .

For its part, the Tempête des Tropiques newspaper reports that Kalungi Luki is the largest tree in forest Mayumbe and indicates that , according to studies conducted by experts in ecology, its current approximate age is more or less four centuries. It measures 53 m in height with 29.5 m height of the drum and its circumference is 13.66 m with 4.40 m in diameter at the top of footings , that is to say, to 3 m high. The scientific name is Kalungi " Entandrophragma Useful " , it is part of the family " Meliaceae or méliacée

DRC natural resources press review of Wednesday, October 16, 2013

" The DRC is on track to rejoin the EITI process," Radio Okapi quoting the Planning Minister Celestin Vunabandi announcement. According to the minister , reports the radio , " the DRC may be deemed compliant for a scoping study has already been adopted. KPMG is the reconciliation of accounts. Everything is going well and we believe that by December, we completed the 2011 report. " Minister made ​​this statement during the visit of a delegation of Itie DRC .

Vunabandi said that the DRC was informed about the global standard that was established for Itie revenues from the exploitation of natural resources , says the thrice-weekly Congo News , adding that , for the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Itie - DRC, this standard ensures greater transparency in oil , gas and mineral resources of the country.

The Dépêches of Brazzaville, in its Kinshasa edition, believes that the sky seems to be increasingly clear to the DRC since his expulsion in April of the Transparency Initiative Extractive Industries ( Itie ) . At last , it appears that the DRC is about to return to this process with regard to the in-house effort to comply with the new standard enacted by Itie .

On another matter, the roadmap water sector in the DRC was presented yesterday, Tuesday 15 October, the Minister of Planning for technical and financial partners , announces the Potentiel which is why it makes newspaper, among other to mobilize additional funds and provide a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation.

DRC natural resources press review of Tuesday, October 15, 2013

" Five billion usd in the pocket Matata for Inga from Washington," as the biweekly Congo News that says " this is to materialize the project Inga III. According to the newspaper , " through the IFC , the World Bank has agreed in principle to pay this sum stupendous . "

On another matter , according to the same newspaper, a delegation of the Board of the Initiative for transparency in the extractive industries (EITI) stays in the DRC in recent days. Congo News believes that this presence is support to DRC EITI process, after several unsuccessful attempts to achieve " compliance " has been suspended temporarily last April .

For the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, five international NGOs present in the country for over ten years , pooling their expertise in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene, announces the Prosperité newspaper. According to this newspaper , it is the occasion of the World Day of handwashing with ACF , ACTED , CRS , Concern Worldwide and International Solidarity organized the launch of the Consortium held at the Maison de France on 15 October 2013. With initial funding from the British Cooperation ( UKaid ) 24 million pounds , the DRC WASH Consortium gives four years to promote to more than 544,000 beneficiaries of good practice in the management of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) . This development program is implemented in coordination with other stakeholders in 17 health zones spread over six provinces : Bandundu , Equateur , Kasai Occidental , Kasai Oriental , Katanga and South Kivu . Its operations are spread over four years and organized by cycles of eighteen months the village , allowing a logical evolution and continuous learning in the program.

Arrested by soldiers for opposing the execution of a project company Soco International to Nyakakoma and kept in solitary confinement at the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) in Goma (North Kivu ), the main curator of Virunga National Park , Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo , was released last week, reports radio Okapi . According to the UN Radio, this part of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature ( ICCN) has a parole after 17 days of detention. He has no right to leave the region of Goma (North Kivu ) , say NGO partners ICCN . According to them, Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo suffered threats since he opposed the proposed installation of a telephone antenna pounded by Soco International Nyakakoma in the park .
Radio Okapi reports that the production of rice Isangi (Eastern Province) increased from 75 000 tonnes in 2012 to over 100 000 tonnes this year. According to the radio , these figures were announced Monday, Oct. 14 by the territorial agriculture inspector at the time of distribution of 14 tons of rice seeds to nearly five hundred households in this area. This assistance was provided by the provincial government for the 2013-2014 crop year. The inspector territorial agriculture Isangi says that rice production increased by almost 50% over the last three years in this part of the country with the su

DRaC natural resources press review of Monday, October 14, 2013

Staying in Washington where he attended the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund , Prime Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon made ​​a presentation to a panel on the development of mining in fragile countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo . Many newspapers have today released this information.The Prime Minister has rejected the argument that the abundance of natural resources is a source of blessing or curse in developing countries,  says the Potentiel newspaper, which emphasizes that , according Matata , the problem is of level absence of a "strong leadership" at the state level and "determination." For proof, Matata Ponyo said that natural resources have allowed African economies to be strong in the years of independence , sweeping a backhand alarmist thesis "paradox of wealth." Before an audience composed exclusively of VIPs from the world of finance, Matata Ponyo did not hesitate to condemn the behavior of some multinationals that fuel conflict in the South to take the maximum benefit of this contradiction , through the illegal exploitation of natural resources found there . The most obvious case , he has said, is the Democratic Republic of Congo faces for more than a decade, a war in its eastern part , built primarily on the illicit trade in natural resources. Also, he has called for a high dynamic globally to allow fragile countries better off natural resources to make a weapon of development and not a hoodoo.The Phare newspaper publishes the whole message of the Prime Minister of the DRC essentially holding this passage : " A country rich in natural resources attracts everyone , including malicious and predatory ."The Prosperité newspaper goes straight to the point and as " Matata criticizes the behavior of multinationals " written " in the presence of senior officials of the Bretton Woods institutions , Matata Ponyo did not hesitate to denounce the behavior of some multinationals that fuel conflict in the South to take the maximum benefit of this contradiction , through the illegal exploitation of natural resources found there . "" Convincing the United States Matata ," the Forum des As newspaper, indicating that the Prime Minister , insecurity in the east can not stop the flow of investments in the DRC. According to the newspaper , Matata recalled that insecurity concerns only 5% of the immense territory of a continent that is the DRC countries. So therefore , this can not be an excuse for U.S. investors and those elsewhere , not come and invest in the DRCIn addition, the Forum des As newspaper reports the payment of $ 200 million USD of TFM to the Congolese government . The paper is a presentation of this information to the Director General of Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM ) , Andre Kapanga , during the conference IPAD / DRC held from 9 to 11 October in Kinshasa on mining and infrastructure. Forum Ace wrote: " SNEL and TFM are engaged in a renovation project with a total hydropower plant with a capacity of 265 megawatts in Kananga Both companies have completed two groups , one of which had been . stop for 18 years. the project aims to renovate all four production units and refurbish transportation facilities . Either an investment of over 220 million U.S. dollars " , said the Director General of TFM .

In connection with the revision of the mining code, the Ecofin Agency announces that the DRC is planning to increase its free shares in the new mining projects from 5% to 15% , reports Bloomberg agency on October 11. "We want to bring to 15% the Free State shares in the capital of new mining projects against 5% today ," said Chantal Bashizi , Vice-President of the Commission for revision of the mining code of the country. 8th largest producer of copper and the largest producer of cobalt in the world, the DRC originally wanted to wear this stake to 35 %. " This amendment created a drubbing in mining groups , reason for which we reduced the proposed rate to only 15% ," said Ms. Bashizi . The Committee revised code also proposes to reduce from ten to five years the length of the "guarantee of stability." This recommends that mining companies are subject to the provisions of the Mining Code in force at the time of the granting of exploitation rights for ten years , regardless of changes in mining legislation . The mining code reform still raises an outcry from mine operators , who fear a decline in their profits. "With the new code , profitability could be divided by three or four ," worries David Guarnieri, director of the department of taxation to Tenke Fungurume Mining, which operates one of the largest deposits of copper and cobalt in the country . He added: " shorten the guarantee of stability is also likely to question the economic model behind the investment decision ." The draft code could be submitted to the Congolese parliament in March 2014, according to the Ministry of Mines

DRC natural resources press review of Friday, October 11, 2013

500 million Us dollars is the value of gold that the M23 operates illegally each year in the territories under its control in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. These increased revenues have enriched and encouraged those who commit atrocities and crimes against humanity in the region , reports the Avenir newspaper which is based on a report that the newspaper described as " very damning " of Enough Project , a advocacy organization human Rights based in Goma, in the province of North Kivu. According to the newspaper , the report cites North Kivu armed groups, including the M23 and some states in the region , and indicates that they are all involved in the looting of natural resources, particularly gold a mob of traffic in the region.
 On another topic , Radio Okapi reports that unpaid invoices official bodies of the Congolese state due to the Authority water supply ( Regideso ) for this year 2013 amounted to thirty -one million U.S. dollars Thursday, October 10 said the general secretary of the National Union of workers Regideso ( Synatreg ), Jean -Bosco Mwaka . According to him, this penalizes the contract signed there seven months between the Congolese firm and the group management Fina SDE Senegal. Funded to the tune of $ 7 million by the World Bank , this partnership should enable Regideso provide drinking water to meet the needs of cities of Kinshasa , Matadi and Lubumbashi.

For its part, the Congolese Press Agency (ACP ) states that the construction of the hydroelectric Katende in the province of Kasai Occidental , with an installed capacity of 64 megawatts , progressing normally , the agency learned Thursday source close to the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric . 1500 on containers of equipment expected a hundred has already arrived in the DRC for the necessary equipment , including transformers, turbines, generators are currently being manufactured in India by the company Bhel ( Barat Heavy Electricals Limited) in its plants Bhopal . , the source said .

The administrator of the territory Bukama ( Katanga ) , Theophilus Dhelo , called Wednesday, October 9 people living in the corridor leading to Upemba park and which pass the elephants do not attack these animals, reports Radio Okapi . This authority and his colleague Malemba Nkulu are committed to educate their citizens about the behavior to adopt towards these elephants that continue to ravage the fields.According to the Tempête des Tropiques newspaper , African Union leaders in the wood and forestry strengthen their capacity to fully control the issue of forest management in the context of economic globalization. From Ghana , Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso , Cameroon and Gabon and the DRC , they participate in a training seminar yesterday launched Thursday, October 10, 2013 in Kinshasa.

DRC natural resources press review of Thursday, October 10, 2013

"Exploitation of oil in the Virunga National Park: the controversy is growing between Soco and WWF" reports the Potentiel newspaper which speaks of statement released by the British company Soco. According to the statement, the newspaper said, Soco working with authorities also known as the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), the manager of the Virunga National Park and the Environmental Studies Group Congo national parks (GEEC) who approved the basic studies of molluscs and the impact of potential exploration area. The newspaper also picks Lumbuenamo About Raymond, National Director of WWF DRC, who was interviewed by Radio Okapi: "Oil production pollutes the environment pollution can lead to the contamination of the lake that serves as the primary resource. to feed more people around and inside Virunga, "he has said. In the same article, the newspaper reports that the potential Gaius Kowene, freelance journalist and correspondent for Radio Netherlands, was attacked Friday, 4 October 2013 to 13 hours at his home by a group of six armed people in military uniforms. According to testimony received by the NGO Journalist in Danger (JED), the reporter had to do in the day, a report on oil exploration in Virunga National Park, when he was attacked in front of his home .
 
Radio Okapi reports that the 9th edition of the Partnership for Infrastructure Development in Africa (Ipad) opened on Wednesday, August 9th in Kinshasa. During the opening session of the forum, participants discussed the issue of electrification of the DRC. They felt it was more electrify the country to support the mining sector, the lungs of the Congolese economy. The Ipad meets since 2005 African businessmen to discuss development issues. This forum also allows participants to optimize relationships and business contacts, to explore and identify investment opportunities. The 8th edition in October 2012 was devoted to oil sector.
 The Congolese News Agency (ACP) states that the delegates to the national consultations that have just finished reading as a major stimulus to the national economy prior reorientation and the emergence of economic activity, putting them in line with social needs, the requirements of national defense and aspirations to progress. They believe that to achieve a better development of the country, the government should implement a particular socio-economic policy oriented agribusiness and promotion of the middle class