East African Mining News Unearthing Mining Opportunities in East Africa
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DRC Mining Week, the annual mining expo and exhibition, that celebrated its 20th edition last year, returns to the Pullman Grand Karavia Hotel in Lubumbashi from 17 to 19 June.
According to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mining, Louis Kabamba: “DRC Mining Week is fully aligned with the economic development orientations that the government intends to support within the framework of enhancing the mining potential of our country.”
Before being appointed to the cabinet, Minister Watum was a veteran mining executive with senior leadership roles at AngloGold Ashanti, Randgold/Barrick (Kibali), and Ivanhoe Mines (Kamoa Copper). As such, he is also a longstanding attendee and expert speaker at the event.
Watum adds that “DRC Mining Week constitutes a strategic framework of primary importance for the promotion of the national mining sector, the reinforcement of our country’s activity with national and international investors, as well as for collaborative reflection on the structural and regulatory challenges faced by the sector.”
Shortly after his appointment last year, Minister Watum declared that his mandate would focus on establishing governance rooted in transparency and accountability, stating that: “We must move forward together to make mining a true lever of prosperity for our people, rooted in good governance, modernisation and the fight against fraud.”
The Ministry of Mines’ strategic agenda aims to shift from raw extraction to an industrial model that captures greater downstream value. Its priorities include industrial beneficiation, with local processing and battery‑grade precursors to raise value capture beyond 15–25%. Artisanal and small‑scale mining will be formalised through 64 legal zones and digital traceability.
In addition, administrative modernisation will introduce quarterly monitoring of technical bodies to improve accountability.
Fiscal oversight was to deploy by March 2026 automated weighing and computerised quality control to curb 50 percent revenue leakage. Furthermore, strategic diplomacy is to balance U.S. and Chinese partnerships with ESG safeguards and updated infrastructure.
“The Ministry of Mines’ endorsement underscores the government’s commitment to the sector. Without this support, DRC Mining Week could not have grown into the trusted platform it is today,” said Samukelo Madlabane, Events Director at VUKA Group, the event organisers.
“For more than 20 years,” Madlabane continues, “DRC Mining Week has served as the leading platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in the country’s mining sector. The continued endorsement of the Ministry of Mines is not only a vote of confidence in the event itself, but also a clear signal of the government’s commitment to strengthening this vital industry. Their support has enabled the event to grow into a trusted meeting place for stakeholders across the mining value chain, ensuring that the sector remains a driver of economic development and opportunity for the DRC.”
He adds: “We remain proud to celebrate the event’s continuing impact as we prepare for the 21st edition, made possible and buoyed through this partnership with the government and the mining community.”
