The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis

16 International Alert
Artisanal exploitation continues, though production and export volumes are far from the levels of
the industrial era. In 2009, reported production at the renamed Congo-Etain sites was a mere 900
tonnes, 16 though actual volumes may be higher. The most important Congo-Etain sites, where
mining still takes place, are situated in and around the town of Manono. Artisanal miners even
dig for cassiterite on the site of the former smelting plant.
To the north lies Katonge, a large coltan mine operated by more than 500 artisanal miners.
Although it lies in the territory of Manono, Katonge is close to the border with Nyunzu and its
mineral trade is therefore oriented towards Kalemie and the Lake Tanganyika coast.
Malemba Nkulu
Cassiterite is the mineral of choice in the territory of Malemba Nkulu, which is more productive
than its neighbour, Manono. The mining potential of Malemba Nkulu is often underestimated for
historical and geographic reasons. When Géomines was still operational, it processed cassiterite from
Malemba Nkulu, but, unlike Manono, all exploitation in Malemba Nkulu was artisanal. Because
Géomines/Congo-Etain’s main installations were located around Manono, it became known as the
tin-mining centre. Nowadays, all mining is artisanal but, as Malemba Nkulu is one of the most
isolated territories in the province, Manono still serves as the regional centre for trade and transport
– obscuring the fact that the majority of traded cassiterite originates from Malemba Nkulu.
Malemba Nkulu territory is divided by the Congo River and the western end is often referred
to as the “left bank” and the eastern as the “right bank”. The latter depends on Manono for
trade. The most important mining site is Kanya mine, near Kanunka village. Activity dramatically
decreased in 2010 because of flooding but now appears on the rise again. Also worth mentioning
are the mining sites near Ngoya.
There are a few cassiterite mines on the left bank, each exploited by several hundred miners.
Kabala mine is close to the town of Malemba. Slightly further is the village of Nseya, where the
Mining Mineral Resources (MMR) comptoir has a presence, and which is supplied by a number
of mines in the vicinity.
1.3 General analysis of the mineral trade
Kivu traders
Until late 2009, traders originating from, and operating through, North and South Kivu provinces
dominated the minerals trade from Northern Katanga. Businessmen from the Bashi and Nande
ethnic groups bought cassiterite and coltan from local miners, and transported it by air or road to
Goma or Bukavu. They combined these shipments with deliveries of consumer goods and food,
providing Katangese communities with products that were previously hard to find, while making
additional profits.
The dominant position of Kivu traders is reflected in the statistics of the Division des Mines in
Kalemie, which recorded the shipping of 181 tonnes of coltan and 900 tonnes of cassiterite from
or through Tanganyika district to the Kivu provinces between January–October 2009. 17 Similarly,
over 90 percent of cassiterite from Lomami district was transported through Kongolo to Bukavu
from June–October 2009. 18 It is impossible to check if these numbers correspond to statistics
at the destination (see Box 1). The 2008 annual report of the Division des Mines in South Kivu
16 Division des Mines Katanga, Rapport Annuel 2009, p.48.
17 Divison des Mines, District du Tanganika, Rapport Annuel 2009. The same document reports that in August 2009 alone air companies in
Kongolo flew 126.2 tons of cassiterite originating from Manono to North and South Kivu. This figure does not include smuggled shipments.
18 According to the Manono mining administration, “frequent flyers” to Bukavu included Agence BMA, Coffret Express, Maison Mississikano,
Mbusa Makalikali, Stella Via, Agence Luhusa.