Latest news with #DemocraticRepublicofCongo
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the African Development Bank is accelerating the transformation of infrastructure and access to basic social services
Roads in Kenge, Kikwit, Tshikapa, Kamuensha, and Mbuji-Mayi have been completely rehabilitated, new stretches of road built, and urban roads modernized. Numerous examples of socioeconomic infrastructure have also benefited from the financial support of the African Development Bank Group ( helping to transform the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of Congolese. A multi-sectoral mission from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the African Development Bank witnessed the impact of these investments during field visits to the five municipalities in western DRC between 5 and 19 May 2025. More specifically, the three projects, financed by the Bank, focus on rehabilitating road infrastructure, enhancing air safety, and improving access to basic social services. Health centres, hydraulic structures equipped with modern technology, provincial rural markets, schools, a refurbished runway in Mbuji-Mayi, and air safety equipment meeting international standards are just some of the successes the joint mission was able to witness. "The mission measured the concrete impact of the projects supported by the Bank in Kasai. From roads to social infrastructure and air safety, progress is visible and is transforming the lives of the population. We pay tribute to the work completed and remain committed to consolidating the gains achieved, in particular with the extension of the Mbuji-Mayi runway to make it a hub that meets international standards," commented Mohamed Coulibaly, Country Programme Manager in charge of the Bank Group's Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Opening a key route in the road network The first stage of the mission concerned the project to rehabilitate the Kinshasa/Ndjili-Batshamba section of national road no. 1. The project involves the rehabilitation of 622 kilometres of road between Kinshasa and Batshamba via Kenge and Kikwit, a key route in the Congolese road network. In the past, this strategic corridor was virtually impassable due to the advanced deterioration of the road surface and a series of sinkholes, and took several days or in some cases weeks, to drive along. Thanks to $68.57 million in funding from the African Development Bank, the work carried out now means the route can be travelled safely in less than a day. This improves connectivity between the capital and the provinces of Mai-Ndombe, Kwango, Kwilu and Kasaï. "In addition to asphalting the road, the Bank has financed the construction and equipping of schools, health centres, boreholes, rural markets, social reintegration centres, administrative buildings, a modern market and weigh stations along the route, as well as the rehabilitation of over 700 kilometres of rural roads," explains Jean Luemba, the RN1 project coordinator. The Bank has also provided substantial logistical support (vehicles and IT equipment) to the state structures involved in the projects. Ultimately, this initiative will benefit over 19 million people by facilitating access to markets, improving the availability of agricultural products and food security, and supporting mobility and economic activities. Significant progress in social infrastructure In terms of social infrastructure, the achievements of the second phase of the Project for the Reinforcement of Socioeconomic Infrastructure in the Central Region (PRISE II) are significant: most of the construction work on schools, health centres, public latrines, and rural markets has been completed or is nearing completion. The execution rate is estimated at 75%. As for the 41 schools under construction, most are ready for handover. The same applies to the 40 health centres, whose buildings have been completed. Public markets are also making good progress, with several structures already operational. In addition, the project has planned community awareness-raising and vocational training activities, including training young people in plumbing, promoting hygiene and local water governance. During the joint mission, the national authorities reiterated their willingness to broaden the scope of the "PRISE" project by integrating geophysical studies into the Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, thus supporting the national ambition of universal coverage in this area. The project's aim is to reach over 870,000 direct beneficiaries in 10 provinces, by improving access rates to water, sanitation, health and education. Advanced airport infrastructure In the air transport sector, a visit to the second phase of the Priority Air Safety Project (PPSA2) revealed remarkable progress in the rehabilitation and extension of the Mbuji-Mayi runway. Around 85% of the 320-metre runway has already been completed. The new tarmac is 95% complete, while the ramp, service road and runway end safety areas (RESA) are 70 to 75% complete. Vital technical infrastructure such as the control tower, power plant, fire station, and lighting system are nearing completion. At Kisangani-Bangoka international airport, the aircraft movement areas, taxiways and tarmac have been completely rehabilitated, and two turn pads have been installed. In addition, six radio navigation systems (DVOR/DME) have been deployed at Goma, Mbuji-Mayi, Kindu, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Mbandaka, enhancing the safety of domestic flights. Eight VHF radio channels have also been installed at several secondary airports to improve aeronautical communication. The upgrading of equipment, combined with capacity-building for technical staff, has reduced the number of air accidents in the DRC from an average of 10 to one a year. The project also includes training for the Régie des voies aériennes staff in the following areas: safety and air bases, maintenance techniques and project management for the Régie, and air transport inspectors for the Civil Aviation Authority. At the end of the visit, the mission underlined the technical quality of the work carried out, the commitment of the contractors and local ownership. In Tshikapa, a local resident declared: "Tshikapa today is the African Development Bank!", testifying to the visibility and tangible impact of the projects on the daily lives of the local population. These results also illustrate the importance of close coordination between the Bank, the Congolese government and technical and financial partners, including the European Union and the World Bank, which were also involved in the construction of certain sections of the RN1. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
LME copper on track for biggest monthly rise since September on nearby supply tightness
Copper prices in London were little changed on Friday, but on course for their biggest monthly rise in eight months due to tighter nearby supply, highlighted by the premium for nearby copper contracts against those further out. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was steady at $9,570 a metric ton by 1006 GMT. The contract is up 4.8% so far in May, on track for its strongest month since September. The price advance is supported by declining stocks in LME-registered warehouses , down 45% since mid-February to 149,875 tons, the lowest in almost a year. Copper inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose 7.2% this week. As Washington continues an investigation into whether to impose new U.S. copper import tariffs, the premium of COMEX copper against the LME benchmark remains elevated, attracting more metal into COMEX-owned warehouses. "The LME copper is facing a bit of a squeeze because the COMEX stocks keep going up and the LME stocks are declining," said Dan Smith, managing director at Commodity Market Analytics. The spread between the cash LME and the three-month copper contract closed on Thursday at a premium of $51.6 a ton, highest since November 2022, indicating worries about nearby supply. The premium, a market structure known as backwardation, also reflects uncertainty about the supply from Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the biggest copper producer in Africa and one of the world's largest, Smith added. As a group, industrial metals were under pressure as the dollar strengthened and market optimism faded following a court ruling that reinstated the broad tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. China's futures markets have closed until June 3 for the Dragon Boat holiday, reducing the overall trade volumes. As to the demand side, the focus is on the official purchasing managers' index (PMI) in top metals consumer China, due on Saturday. China's factory activity likely contracted for a second month in May, a Reuters poll showed. LME aluminium fell 0.3% to $2,443.50 a ton, zinc slipped 0.4% to $2,663.50, lead lost 0.2% to $1,958, tin dropped 1.8% to $30,655, while nickel rose 0.2% to $15,395.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Flooded Mine in Congo Is Latest Threat to Global Copper Supply
By , Thomas Biesheuvel, and Jack Farchy Save The status of one of the world's most important copper mines remains clouded in uncertainty, more than a week after seismic activity caused widespread flooding deep below ground. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. 's Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world's top sources of copper and was on course to become the third-biggest supplier of the key energy-transition metal this year. Yet its current condition is a mystery, with contrasting messages from its biggest shareholders.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
African Mining Week country spotlights to explore Africa's top mining markets
CAPE TOWN, South Africa/ -- The African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 conference – scheduled for October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town – will host a series of country spotlights, providing a platform for the continent's leading mineral markets to showcase upcoming project and investment opportunities. The sessions promote emerging and established mining destinations across the continent, inviting global investors to explore new frontiers across Africa. Angola An AMW country spotlight session on Angola will present actionable pathways for global financiers and operators to unlock greater value from the country's mining sector. With vast reserves of diamonds, copper, gold and rare earths, Angola's mining sector is poised for transformative growth. Ongoing reforms and streamlined licensing processes are making the country increasingly attractive to investors and the AMW session will explore the impact regulatory reform has on the market. Botswana Botswana is globally recognized for its well-managed diamond sector, producing over 20% of the world's rough diamonds by volume. Now, the country is charting a new course by leveraging its success in diamonds to expand into critical mineral production. AMW will serve as a platform for Botswana to present its mineral diversification strategy and explore partnerships aimed at sustainable sector expansion and value chain development. Democratic Republic of Congo An AMW session on the Democratic Republic of Congo will explore efforts to expand the downstream sector through investments in electric vehicle manufacturing. As one of the world's biggest cobalt and copper producers, the country – with an estimated $24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth - strives to unlock greater value addition from the sector. AMW will provide a comprehensive look at investment-ready infrastructure, mineral beneficiation projects and ongoing policy reforms. Gabon As Gabon opens up its mining sector under a reformed Mining Code, investors will gain insights into the country's strengthened regulatory environment. AMW will decode policy shifts and showcase opportunities in high-potential sectors such as manganese and potash. The session aims to equip international stakeholders with the tools and insights needed to successfully navigate Gabon's evolving landscape. Ghana A country spotlight on Ghana will showcase opportunities across the gold value chain. The country represents Africa's largest gold producer, with various programs - including the revitalization of existing mines and new drilling opportunities – being implemented to unlock new production opportunities. South Africa AMW 2025 will feature a country spotlight session on South Africa – the world's top platinum group metals (PGMs) producer, accounting for over 80% of global output. With a Critical Minerals Strategy launching in 2025, world-class infrastructure, skilled labor and resource potential, South Africa is positioning itself as an attractive market for mineral investors. AMW will offer exclusive insights into the nation's roadmap for resource-driven growth and sustainable industrialization. Zambia As Africa's second-largest copper producer, Zambia strives to increase production to three million tons per annum by 2031. An AMW country spotlight will showcase strategies being implemented to achieve this goal, including project, financing and partnership prospects across the copper value chain. Zimbabwe AMW 2025 will share insight into Zimbabwe's efforts to enhance local value addition across the mining sector. As Africa's largest lithium producer and a top gold, copper and platinum market, the country is strengthening cooperation with global players to maximize output. The AMW session provides a unique opportunity to facilitate new partnerships and investments. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power. SOURCE Energy Capital & Power
CNN
4 days ago
- General
- CNN
Gorillas once caught by wildlife traffickers are set free in historic reintroduction
Last October, four female eastern lowland gorillas were airlifted from their home in Kasuhgo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and released 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast in Virunga National Park. Less than a year later, they have all successfully integrated into a group of wild gorillas, in what is being hailed as the largest translocation of the subspecies ever. Conservationists hope that its success will not only prevent the local extinction of an isolated population, but provide essential knowledge needed to protect the critically endangered apes in the future. The females – named Isangi, Lulingu, Mapendo and Ndjingala, and aged between 10 and 21 years old – were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as babies and taken to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) where they were rehabilitated over a long period of time, learning to forage and socialize as they would in the wild. Deemed ready for release, last fall they were flown to Mount Tshiaberimu – or 'Mountain of the Spirits' – a 1,700-meter (5,577-foot) peak in the northern region of the national park, where they were kept in a fenced enclosure before being released into the wild. The gorilla monitoring team, who expected the transition to take anywhere between several months to several years, were astounded when, in less than two months, they appeared ready to leave the enclosure. 'It happened much quicker than we all anticipated,' says Katie Fawcett, executive and science director for GRACE Gorillas, the NGO leading the rewilding process alongside Virunga National Park and local communities. This was partly down to the allure of a handsome wild silverback called Mwasa, who approached the fence of the enclosure day after day, beating his arms on the ground and grunting to catch the females' attention. It worked: they responded to his calls and even chose to abandon their indoor dens to sleep closer to him along the fence line. Watching on carefully, the monitoring team decided that it was the natural time to let the females join him. 'We really pride ourselves on every decision being gorilla led,' Fawcett tells CNN. 'After three days of attention directed at the magnificent Mwasa … the decision was made: 'let's go for it.' The fence was cut so they could come out.' Since then, to the team's surprise and delight, the four females have quickly settled into life in the wild, adjusting to the colder climate on the mountain's steep hills and a new diet of bamboo shoots and other native plants. Related article Meet the conservationist saving gorillas in Uganda's 'impenetrable forest' While rangers continue to monitor the gorillas' health, collecting non-invasive biological samples and conducting visual assessments, so far the gorillas have shown no clinical signs of stress – in fact, they are looking 'amazing,' says Fawcett, with thick, shiny coats and full bellies. The biggest excitement came in the new year, when Mwasa was spotted mating with Ndjingala, a 16-year-old female, for the first time. Since then, the other three have also been seen mating with him, according to Fawcett. As gorillas have a similar gestation period to humans, the team are eagerly counting down the days to September, but she says they are cautiously optimistic: 'It's probably going to take some time as the female gorillas were on contraception while they were in the sanctuary at GRACE.' A birth would be a huge ray of hope for the whole species. The eastern lowland gorilla, or Grauer's gorilla, is found in the lowland tropical rainforest of eastern DRC and is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies – all of which are endangered. While there have been successful translocations of western lowland gorillas in the past, eastern gorilla releases have had a very poor survival rate, with individuals dying or disappearing within weeks of release, or being so young that they have been unable to survive without a lactating mother. 'What's different about this reintroduction project is not only that it is the largest and we're putting in four females into this group, but also that the decision was made early on not to just throw a baby back into the group, but to rehabilitate it over a long period of time and make sure the gorilla has the social skills and critical survival skills,' says Fawcett. '(We were) trying to mimic that natural behavior of having adult females join a wild group.' The project was also intended to provide a critical genetic boost to the small and isolated population of eight gorillas living on Mount Tshiaberimu. Previous scientific modelling found this population to be non-viable, with some estimating that it would go extinct between 20 and 50 years, unless new females were introduced. 'The tiny gorilla population was doomed but could now be saved by this intervention,' Liz Williamson, a professor at the University of Stirling in the UK specializing in the conservation, ecology and behavior of gorillas, who was not part of the project, said in an email. She added that the situation facing Grauer's gorillas across eastern DRC is 'dire,' but the translocation could bring multiple conservation benefits. Related article Rhinos went extinct in Uganda 40 years ago. Now, a private ranch is home to almost 50 Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park and a Belgian prince, commended the initiative in a press release: 'This is a huge milestone in efforts to bolster the eastern lowland gorilla population and we are delighted that the gorillas are successfully adapting to the wild.' However, there are huge challenges working within Virunga National Park, which has been the center of armed conflict for decades. Over 200 rangers have been killed in the park since it was created in 1925, and the recent resurgence of the M23 rebel group has escalated matters, with attacks on rangers becoming increasingly common. Mount Tshiaberimu is located within the troubled region. 'Working in this area is not easy,' says Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, DRC director for GRACE Gorillas. 'The main thing strategically is to put the community in the middle of everything we do: we recruit caregivers, we recruit educators who are trained at GRACE … and they feel that responsibility of taking care of wildlife.' Brought up in the area himself, he recalls when gorillas were widespread and as a child, he would listen to them calling or beating their chests. 'We grew up in the same habitat, sharing the same resource,' he says. 'Gorillas are our identity, our totem, they are an important source of pride in this area.' Related article The world's smallest elephants are facing extinction. One woman has a plan to save them Yet, as human populations grow, pressures on gorilla habitat are inevitable, with forest being cleared for agriculture and firewood. During times of conflict, with communities in extreme need, these threats are heightened as some resort to hunting gorillas for their meat. The reintroduction is a huge breakthrough, but it is only the start. 'The real key for gorilla conservation success in this region is forest protection,' says Fawcett. 'We're super excited by this result and how it can help to inform these critically endangered populations, but we need to stop populations reaching that point.'
