DRC natural resources press review of Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Referring the thirty-fourth meeting of the year 2013 followed by the economic and financial situation in the country, headed by the Prime Minister, the newspaper L'Avenir informs that despite the decline in copper prices. The macroeconomic framework remains stable. The newspaper wrote: "In the field of raw materials, July 18, 2013, it is a decline in copper 1.55% Thus, tonne traded at $ 6,885, against $ 6,995 last week. . It is the same for cobalt which lost 2.5% of its value, and has sold $ 32,259.15 per tonne against $ 33,075 per tonne previously. Prices of petroleum products, July 18, continued to rise in both markets. prices barrels totaled $ 108.58 (0.9%) on the London market and $ 107.89 (3.1%) on the New York market . As for agricultural products, to 18 July 2013, their prices are falling, and have the following changes: corn (-1.9%), wheat (-2.4%) and soybeans (-8.2 %). "At the national level, it is noted the continued macroeconomic stability, with stronger convergence prospects for achieving growth rate of 8.2% for fiscal 2013. Moreover, the confidence of economic operators consolidates. The main macroeconomic indicators showed the following trends this week: The weekly inflation rate is 0.038% (0.007). On the year, inflation reached 0,453%. Annualized, the inflation rate at the end of 2013 would be 0.814%, against a target of 4% at July 19, 2013, the exchange rate has remained stable on the back of a 0.5% appreciation in the and only 0.04% on the parallel market. The exchange rate is indicative of past 919.28 CDF / USD 915.11 CDF / USD, and 928.00 CDF / USD 927.67 in parallel segment, international reserves at July 19, 2013 have increased slightly and reached 1,658.1 million, against 1643.28 million last week. The current level of imports cover 8.79 weeks, the director of the Central Bank of Congo rate remains at 3% since its downward revision of 28 February 2013.In the same vein, with regard to the repatriation of export earnings, the Potentiel newspaper announces that the mining are in the crosshairs of government. The tabloid wrote. "Mining companies operating in the DRC are now in the viewfinder of the government accuses them of" strict non-compliance "provisions for repatriation of export earnings Strategic Troika government met Monday around the Prime Minister banged his fist on the table, after having read the preliminary report submitted by the Governor of BCC. Forthwith strategic troika recommended that appropriate actions should be considered after the development of the final report due ".The same newspaper reported that the rainforest of the DRC is abused and notes that despite commitments loggers, in Equateur, millions of hectares of forests destroyed are not restored. Population, environmental services and civil society raise the tone for the funds received by the Congolese government actually serve to reforest.

DRC natural resources press review of Monday, July 22, 2013

Speaking of closing Saturday, July 20, 2013 Workshop on optimizing land governance and natural resources, the newspaper le Phare believes that the ways of the land reform are finally marked. The newspaper notes that "based on four themes:" Recognition and security "," Conflicts of competence interdepartmental regarding land "," vertical skills in land matters "and" resolution of land conflicts, "four committees led to the formulation of resolutions and recommendations that the Minister of Land Affairs appreciated the quality. For him, they are the tag, if safeguards in the establishment of a road, in connection with the ongoing reform. Among recommendations, the newspaper said, for example, for acquired rights in accordance with custom, the participants called on the Government to specify by regulation, the legal status of customary land rights in order to establish customary rights indisputable bases. The government must establish the principles of prior consultation of the local communities in all processes of allocation of space and land rights acquisition and exploitation rights of natural resources.In another case the Forum des As newspaper announced that the National Electricity Company (SNEL) has the last few days started the campaign on the low flow of the Congo River. On Friday, July 19 in room Bibi Play in Kalamu commune, 6 municipalities in the district of Funa closely followed the main speaker of the day, the CEO of the corporation Eric Mbala Musanda Administrator. Who, in his word, recommended economy of electric energy to its partners in their daily lives and to adhere to the "prepayment meter" to consume less.
     The newspaper notes that the CEO (Ad) of Snel said that low water is a natural phenomenon that goes from May to late August. According to him, the work of Inga was designed to operate for low water. Unfortunately, he lamented, for 40 years, his behavior did not suffer any serious maintenance. Must, to date, a machine that will start to remove the sand from the channel to overcome the problem of low water in the DRC, said the Ad of SNEL. "This is what is at the base of shedding experienced since June in our city to protect machines", informs the No. 1 Snel.The tri-weekly Congo Nouveau releases list of 85 multinationals who finance the war in the DRC and wrote: "Here is the list of 85 multinational implicated by the UN in the plunder of the DRC and indirect funding to the Civil War East in a 2003 report. Following this report, the UN took no sanction which only reinforces the suspicion of complicity around MONUSCO, UN military forces in the DRC. Among these companies, some are accused of carrying a view to provide logistical support directly arming the rebels or loyalists. they are either protected by the UN or by the State that hosts. Such was the case of Anvil Mining in Canada Afrimex or in Britain or many other multinationals in Belgium. has noted that many are originally from South Africa in close connection with the UK.Radio Okapi reported that a woman was killed and more than three hectares of cassava fields ravaged by a herd of elephants Mangi, a town located 250 km northeast of the city of Kamina, Katanga. According to the administrator of the territory Bukama, Bokalanagana Boyoma Upemba these elephants from the park. For the head of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), a plan for delivery of these elephants has existed for over three years. Felix Mbayo, Provincial Director of ICCN, says his institution does not have the means to repress some 250 elephants and bring them back into the park.The Catholic Agency DIA announced that as part of the intensification of agriculture, Bandundu province has plans to distribute cassava varieties resistant to mosaic. According to experts CARG, Rural Agricultural Management Board, the province wants to replace 50% of local varieties in 3 years.

DRC natural resources press review of Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Radio Okapi reports that the price per gram of dry gold rose from 60 to 38 U.S. dollars in the space of two months in Bunia in Eastern Province. The president of the cooperative of gold traders in Ituri (conori) Lonema Mukua stated Saturday, July 13 at a meeting with the operators in the mining sector. According to him, it is a consequence of the decline in the price of this precious material in the world. He pointed out that gold traders in Bunia experience now enormous difficulties in selling their goods on the market.In fact, traders who had bought gold at a high price, do not want to sell their goods for not working at a loss. The president of the cooperative of gold from Ituri traders explained that most of these traders are worried about the turn of events.Speaking of green development, the Prosperité newspaper announces that the Government is carbon credit and notes that: "Meeting Monday, July 15, 2013, with the Prime Minister, members of the cluster productive sector have combed through several folders likely 'rake in revenues to the DRC. Notably, the reduction of gas emissions greenhouse program and a workshop on land governance for institutions. According to the newspaper, the Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism, Bavo N'sa Mputu, presented the program to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for the districts of Plateau and Mai-Ndombe. This program, he explained, aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by fighting against deforestation and forest degradation, but also to increase the forest carbon stock.The newspaper l'Avenir bounces off the record to inform Sokimo than inactive for nearly three decades, the mining company Kilo-Moto (Sokimo) begins to rise from the ashes is the new time in the crosshairs of hands black scheming that its destabilization. To believe our bloodhounds, calls unjustified stoppage of work are launched in recent days, the location of the agents began to regain hope of seeing this upright former flagship of the economy of the Eastern province. Indeed, consistent reliable sources reveal that this initiative is part of undermining their own partners Sokimo unable to pay farm-rent owed to the business. Only the mining company Mining Kibale is not included in the lot of the insolvent partners.To fight against load shedding, the newspaper Potentiel reports that SNEL advocates saving electricity and wrote: "The National Electricity Company (SNEL) is stop for some time, with enormous difficulties in supply of electricity. Among the causes, we can note the low water. Experts inform that this is a very low flow increased on the Congo River, following the early cessation of rains in the western region of the country ". To build awareness about the current state of the situation as it stands at the Inga hydroelectric dam, the provincial director of Snel / Bas-Congo, Daniel Mukutu Ndombasi advises subscribers to internalize the notion of saving electrical energy. He advocated a recipe "palliative, convenient and easy." "We recommend that subscribers Snel energy saving. To do this, he said, it is recommended to turn off the lights during the day. "Forum des As newspaper reports that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jean Chrysostome Vahamwiti, visited last Tuesday, July 16, 2013, the Center for rearing and training located in the territory of Kasangulu Cataractes district, in the province of Bas-Congo. This site visit was sanctioned by the ribbon cutting, a symbol of the official launch of all other centers stocking and training for fish farmers scattered across the country. For the newspaper, this gesture marks a fish business revolution that begins with Kasangulu.The newspaper explained that the nursery Kasangulu Centre is one of 25 centers in the DRC long abandoned or underutilized inherited from colonial times. Although robbed and reduced its original area that was 3 hectares, the center has 11 Kasangulu breeding ponds rehabilitated related infrastructure réfectionnées, three new production ponds built to the standards of art. It is able to produce 5 tons of catfish and tilapia fingerlings per year to plant more than 120 acres of ponds over 600 fish farmers identified

DRC natural resources press review of Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Prospérité newspaper announces that, as part of the illegal exploitation of natural resources, the Minister of Mines, Martin Kabwelulu launches the ICGLR / DRC and written certificate: "Provincial Ministers of Mines and Heads of Provincial Divisions Mines and Geology, the Provincial Directors of CEEC, the Heads of provincial antenna SAESSCAM and the Governors of the provinces will be in Kinshasa on Wednesday 24 July, to help launch the Certificate ICGLR / DRC. Minister of Mines organizing this event under the patronage of the Prime Minister, together with the Executive Secretariat of the ICGLR (International Conference of the Great Lakes Region). This ceremony is firmly in the context of the commitments made by the DRC to carry out the decisions and recommendations of the Special Summit on the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources held in Lusaka on 15 December 2010 by the Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the ICGLR. "
On another note, Radio Okapi reports that more than fifteen thousand inhabitants in the territory group Yalibande Isangi 150 km west of Kisangani (Orientale Province) are deprived of drinking water for over a month. Water sources begin to dry appointed pending the period of the dry season and water mixed with mud becomes unfit for consumption, said this Monday, July 15 morning local civil society. It calls for urgent action by health authorities and political Isangi. According to some parents, many children are already suffering from diarrhea and intestinal worms.
For its part, the Potentiel newspaper reports that the insolvent partners singled out in the strike to Sokimo and notes: "Threat of strike at the mining company Kilo-Moto, Sokimo in Bunia after a late payment of wages the last month. BGFIBANK which houses the staff salaries Sokimo have recorded a liquidity problem to serve the agents of this mixed company. The straw that broke the camel is really only the tree that hides the forest. This forest is made up of insolvent partners Sokimo who are reluctant to pay the cost of rent. Yet this source of financing of the Sokimo is the only one that allowed the construction of the plant Moku in Eastern Province. In the coming days, the plant will be operational in order to allow the DRC to export refined prices including value gold.
Through correspondence, the Director General of Sokimo has formally insolvent partners, who pay back the Sokimo not constitute a contractual obligation by way of legal consequences. Fearing the recovery of industrial production to Sokimo, before their next departure, the insolvent partners try to use workers as shields to put in a lot of revival of Sokimo which are small to small, positive results ".
Referring to the product of artisanal fisheries, the Forum des AS newspaper believes that smoked fish on two sold comes from Kinshasa "Libongo" and explains that "the sale of smoked product of artisanal fish stop the problem of multiplicity From the Central Station in Port Baramoto control services at the river ports of the capital., there are surprisingly more than twenty ports which are the docking points and distribution of fishery products ". The development of traditional fishing on the Congo River was accompanied by a relative increase in local consumption of fish. This, compared to fresh and frozen fish imported. This growth is due to the concerns of residents (nostalgic) in Kinshasa do want to consume that local and organic, although the westernization of dietary habits in Kinshasa tends to change habits.
       So that the presence of smoked fish markets ever so slightly to stimulate demand. The enthusiasm of some particular Kinshasa for smoked fish regularly pushes them to go in the ports of the capital.

DRC natural resources press review of Monday, July 15, 2013

For agricultural production, the Potentiel newspaper announces that the government research funding of $ 5.730 billion. According to the daily, annual USD 1.5 billion is spent on massive food imports. In agricultural production, the government has been conspicuously absent for 25 years. A tendency to reverse! rA this purpose, the paper said, on 17 and 18 September 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is planning a business meeting to bring together 400 investors from various backgrounds. The government claims to have mobilized 15% of USD 5.730 billion. It remains to meet the remaining 85%. To do this, it will be organized this business meeting which covers over 400 national and international investors. The task is not easy. "This meeting will mark a turning point in funding the Congolese agriculture.
The tabloid says Minister John Chrysostom Vahamwiti Mukesyayira regret: "Despite its enormous agricultural potential, our country that drains scarce resources for agriculture. Apart from the efforts of the government and our traditional donors, other types of investments, including from private, are sorely lacking. "Quite a challenge!

The same information, the Phare newspaper, citing Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the business meeting is held in order to write a new page in the development of Congolese agriculture to move from farming substance to actually create wealth agriculture, guaranteeing the well-being of the population.

DRC natural resources press review of Friday, July 12, 2013

The newspaper the Potentiel reports that the Government, by an intergovernmental order signed by the Minister of Mines and the Deputy Finance, extended until 31 December 2013 moratorium prohibiting exports of unrefined crude ores. According to Bloomberg, which relays the same information, the ban on exports of copper and cobalt from the DRC unprocessed, scheduled to begin this month, is postponed until the end of the year. Supposed to force mining companies to process metals and minerals in the Congo, however, this prohibition is impractical. Mining groups complain because of the scarcity of electricity production to process all minerals and had requested a delay in the implementation of the embargo.The tabloid said that the DRC is the eighth-largest copper producer in the world and the largest producer of cobalt in 2012, according to U.S. Geological Survey. But power shortages have forced some mining companies to install generators or buy electricity from neighboring Zambia to run their factories.Remain in the ores to note that, according to Agence Ecofin, Tiger Resources Ltd. announced on July 11, a scaled up 173% of the deposit indicated resource Sase Central its copper project in the province Lupoto Katanga in Congo. According to the Australian company listed on ASX, indicated resources totaled 9.6 Mt at a grade of 1.39% copper, with 134,000 tonnes of copper and 5,000 tonnes of cobalt. It is, according to the company, an increase of 173% compared to 49 000 tonnes of copper measured in March 2011.Inferred resources are also estimated at 2.8 Mt at a grade of 1.21% copper, with 34,000 tonnes of copper and 1,000 tonnes of cobalt. "The feasibility study of the deposit Sase Central will be completed in late 2013. If inconclusive, Tiger submit a request to change the operating 2014 "exploration Lupoto permit allowed, announced Brad Marwood, managing director of Tiger Resources Ltd.. The agency said that Tiger Resources Ltd. holds 100% Lupoto copper project located 23 km south of the Kipoi Copper Project in which it owns a 60% interest, northwest of Lubumbashi, Katanga province.Still on the issue of mines, Radio Okapi reports that the crisis in the Kilo Moto Mining Company (Sokimo) was the focus of a meeting which met on Wednesday, July 10 at Bunia national caucus of members elected Ituri and officers of the company. The meeting comes two days after peaceful protests about 80 officers of this company were organized in the city to demand the resignation of their management committee, accused of mismanagement. After the meeting, the MPs said investigate to understand the real challenges facing the Sokimo and external partners, including the South African AngloGold Ashanti Kilo.For its part, the weekly the Revolution reports concern of Major André Mukonda who cares about the non-use of his men by oil. According to the newspaper, the Congolese State expensively trained police officers who are responsible for monitoring the oil and mining industries sites knowingly. They specialize in mining, transportation and marketing of oil so that mining products. In addition, they are OPJ restricted jurisdiction to find cases of illegal storage of petroleum products and precious materials from mines. They have the authority to stop forthwith all offenders. As a result, they and maximize revenues to the Treasury by the services listed above. But now the oil companies and ignore the state does not get involved enough for their assignment in the mining and oil companies as they are responsible for security. Especially those who are in good standing with the state. (...) Thus the detachment commander of the national mining and hydrocarbon Police Major Mukonda André appealed both to the authorities concerned ministries as those of mining companies and hydrocarbons, so they use them.On another note, Radio Okapi announced that a wildfire has consumed more Wednesday, July 10 acres of corn and cassava in the group Kakokwela on Kamashi Kabuya axis in the territory of Bukama (Katanga), say witnesses on site. They explained that the flames would Mukungwe parts of the neighboring village where women were in search of wild rats. Some farmers who had made small granaries for the next cropping season say they have lost everything. The president of the farmers and fishermen of the chiefdom Kabondo Dianda feared for his part that this not only causes a substantial loss, but also the famine in this country especially as many have also lost their seed.The same source reports that environmentalist recommend the complete cutting of fruit trees. Nicolas Shoku, environmental expert, called the farmers who produce the charcoal not to cut the fruit trees. A practice that tends to spread. In an interview Tuesday, July 9 at Radio Okapi, he regretted seeing farmers in Bas-Congo cut orange, mango, safoutiers and other fruit trees to make charcoal. An activity that contributes to the destruction of species. He said that the tree as a renewable resource should not be cut into disorder to facilitate regeneration.

DRC natural resources press review of Thurday, July 11, 2013

Very little information on natural resources in today's press. Note, however, that Africa News announces that "the National Rural Water Service (SNHR) carries the water project in rural areas" and noted that "shortly after his inauguration, the Matata government adopted a roadmap for supply drinking water in rural areas, as part of the 2012-2013 crop year, in the form of a list of 135 projects realized and a deadline:. Dec. 2013 Seven months later, the observation made on the ground and in the opinion of most impartial observers, George Koshi Gimeya, the Director General of SNHR and his team have made a great impression. They already shipped 124 items. Currently, they are working to run two major programs government funded respectively by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Water Resources.According to the paper, the concern is to build 235 wells with hand pumps, five boreholes with pumps emerged and modern well run with solar pumps.For its part, the newspaper l'Avenir reflects on "the challenge of" building a country more beautiful than before "no forest" and writes: "Logging is often synonymous with deforestation, says in the magazine" Awake "June 22, 2003, the author of the article entitled:" The tropical forests:. can they operate without destroying "Indeed, the author describes the embarrassment of loggers, given to a short-term license, operating "in extremis" to do more in a short time. Consequently, forests are losing their logs and destroy because, he said, in their fall, these trees for trade damages or destroys trees to which they are connected by vines. (...) The DRC complained observers, paradoxically saw a similar situation. Yet the challenge of building a country more than before (according to the national anthem " Debout Congolais ") hardly excludes vital resources such as forests.