Engineering for Sustainability as Mining Booms in the DRC

Now the world’s second-largest producer of copper, behind Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing significant investment in infrastructure to support mining and other sectors. According to Vis Reddy, chairman of SRK Consulting South Africa, it is vital for the country to "lock in" its progress and pave a sustainable way forward that fully leverages the economic benefits of copper mining. SRK Congo, established in Lubumbashi in 2010, is staffed, managed, and majority-owned by experienced Congolese professionals.

"Over many years of our involvement with clients in the DRC, we have seen considerable developments in this market, which have accelerated in recent years. The copper-cobalt boom is tangible in many regions, and there is growing investor enthusiasm for the opportunities here, despite the inherent risks," said Reddy.

He also noted that the DRC is a relatively young mining destination for international companies regarding its mining codes and regulations, which are likely to continue evolving. As the government puts the necessary frameworks in place, the predictability of the mining landscape is gradually strengthening.

Greater Certainty

"This process is neither simple nor quick, as there are many cases where there is no precedent for new laws and rules. It is not always clear how certain aspects of legislation should be interpreted and applied, but over time, there will be greater certainty about what is expected of investors, mining companies, and other stakeholders," he explained.

SRK Congo chairman Dominique Sambwa highlighted positive developments in the Katanga region, where the Lobito Corridor is now open and rail transport trials have been initiated. The corridor stretches 1,300 km through Angola to the Atlantic Ocean, promising to be an important route for commodities from areas like Kolwezi to the export harbour at Lobito.

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Improved Infrastructure

"This is one of the major recent advances underpinning the future of mining in Kolwezi, adding to the new Busanga power station, which now delivers 240 MW," said Sambwa. He noted efforts underway to improve infrastructure in newer mining areas like Manono, where the Mpiana-Mwanga hydropower station, destroyed 25 years ago, is now being refurbished to serve growing energy demand as mining activities gather momentum. However, the area remains isolated, and about 433 km of transport road needs to be built to the nearest exit port at Kalemie. New projects in Manono, which hosts several exciting mineral prospects, will face infrastructural challenges for some time.

Urban Migration

The infrastructure challenge extends beyond the operational needs of mines to the migration of people in the DRC to areas where mines are started. Steve Bartels, Principal Civil Engineering Technologist at SRK Consulting, emphasized the importance of basic urban facilities and infrastructure, which are vital for supporting both the surrounding communities and the mine facilities.

"As settlements mushroom around mining areas, it is important for authorities to adopt an integrated approach to urban infrastructure. Just as infrastructure needs to be planned and constructed according to health and engineering standards, so too must the sustainable provision of water, electricity, and other services," said Bartels.

Economic Diversity

Considerable infrastructure is developing to accommodate the growing business traffic from abroad, including an international airport and new hotels to accommodate the influx of additional traffic into the area, said SRK Consulting Principal Environmental Scientist Wouter Jordaan. "Fast-developing information technology and communication services, along with a growing hospitality industry in the DRC, can be game-changing while creating further opportunities to develop new skill sets in the economy. This is one of the important signs of diversification of economic activity, providing a foundation for the government’s aim of re-establishing a skilled middle class in the country," he added.

The mining sector, as a pioneer industry, plays a central role in this endeavour. It generates demand for a wide range of services and products, which the government wants mines to procure increasingly from the local economy rather than abroad. Legal requirements like the ARSP, which mandates mines to procure certain services and goods from majority locally owned and registered companies, and the Cahier des Charges, which requires mines to invest in local infrastructural development to address community needs within the mine’s zone of influence, are geared towards this end.

Investor Confidence

Roanne Sutcliffe, Principal Environmental Engineer, pointed to the drawing up of DRC mining regulations in 2018, which are now gaining traction. These cover issues from sustainability and social development to taxation. "There is today a greater understanding of what is required of new entrants and existing players in this market, giving a level of confidence to investors. At the same time, mines are seeing that there are sustainable development imperatives to be met across their entire supply chain. To the extent that mines can optimize their positive impacts – and avoid operational and reputational risks in their supply chains – the evolving framework in the DRC is creating a more conducive environment for mining investment," she added.

Mining Services

"From our initial focus on exploration and resource estimation, we have developed our services to include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The DRC’s growing mining sector has allowed the Lubumbashi office to extend its disciplines to include hydrogeology and geotechnical studies. We are working closely with our experts in global offices, including South Africa and China, to offer our services to clients, including Chinese clients in the DRC, by collaborating on projects with staff possessing local knowledge and experience," said SRK Congo country manager Susa Maleba.

Sambwa noted that more mining companies in the DRC were stepping up to meet specific local government regulations while also aiming to achieve global standards, from resource reporting to ESG. "This is a promising sign, as it indicates that the DRC will not be left behind by mainstream trends and benchmarks in the global mining sector," he said.

SRK Sponsors DRC Mining Week

SRK Consulting will have a multi-country presence at the DRC Mining Week in June 2024 and is a Gold Sponsor of the event. Its team will include professional staff from the DRC Congo office, as well as over a dozen engineers and scientists from SRK Consulting in China and South Africa. In an initiative to support Chinese mining companies active in the DRC, SRK’s offices in the DRC, China, and South Africa work in formal collaboration. This initiative facilitates valuable on-the-ground support in the DRC for China-based mining companies, as well as corporate-level strategic engagement at the head office level in China. The SRK team at DRC Mining Week will include experts in exploration, mining, civil engineering, and environmental and social impact, among other disciplines.