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DRC
Trafigura execs in Lubumbashi to try to save Gécamines cobalt partnership

Representatives of the Swiss trading giant have travelled to Lubumbashi to talk to Gécamines' new management, where they hope to persuade the state-owned mining firm to continue its artisanal cobalt partnership with them. [...]

Published on 02/03/2022 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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DRC
EGC struggles to make cobalt comeback

Five months after the arrival of its new managing director, the Gecamines subsidiary has still not revived its partnership with trading giant Trafigura, nor has it signed an ore processing agreement with Buenassa, contrary to some reports.

Subscribers only Mining 20.10.2023

DRC
Tshisekedi appoints Eric Kalala as new head of EGC

The former Bolloré executive Eric Kalala is preparing to take the helm at the Entreprise Générale de Cobalt. With this appointment, the Congolese president hopes to breathe new life into the Gécamines subsidiary, which has been somewhat neglected since its creation in 2019.

Subscribers only Mining 29.05.2023

Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi in Beijing on 26 May 2023.

DRC
Double act takes over from Trafigura trader Economou to ensure cobalt continuity

The discovery of major fraud in Trafigura's nickel business, which could cost the Swiss firm up to $577m, pushed its trader Socrates Economou towards the exit. Mehdi Wetterwald and Daniel von Arx are taking over from him and will head to DR Congo to secure the group's supplies of cobalt.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 15.03.2023

Inner circles | DRC
Gécamines boss Kaputo Kalubi stymied by political interference

The close political and financial scrutiny of the DRC's state-owned mining firm is hobbling its efforts to develop Katanga's natural resources, and its new management team has been unable to carry out the necessary restructuring.

Subscribers only Mining 02.12.2022

Gécamines headquarters in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, on the 16th January 2021.

DRC
Alphonse Kaputo to honour Gécamines redundancy and pension obligations

The boss of the state-owned mining company is looking to pay out monies owing to former staff who have either been laid off or have retired, as well as to the spouses of workers who are now deceased.

Subscribers only Mining 11.11.2022

DRC
Trafigura plays catch-up on cobalt and copper with two deals worth a billion dollars

Having already secretly signed a $400m financing deal with the Chinese firm Chengtun, which has taken over Nzuri Copper's mines, the Genevan trader Trafigura is now set to finalise a deal with Chemaf first announced in late January.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 12.05.2022

Spotlight | DRC
Behind-the-scenes of Glencore's battle to resolve its disputes with Kinshasa

Led by Gary Nagle since last July, the Swiss group, which reported a $5bn net income for 2021, is now practising a policy of amicable settlement to iron out disputes with local and US authorities over its activities in the DR Congo.

Subscribers only Mining 29.03.2022

Glencore CEO, the South African Gary Nagle.

DRC
Tenke Fungurume: US proceedings disrupted by tensions with Gécamines

The Congolese court's decision to appoint an administrator for the copper and cobalt producer Tenke Fungurume Mining has had an impact on a lawsuit filed in the US by a service provider to the site, Katanga Contracting Services.

Subscribers only Mining 17.03.2022

Central Africa
Why Trafigura has positioned itself on the Lobito-Kolwezi corridor

Swiss trader Trafigura, which is increasing its supply agreements in the DRC and Zambia, is keen to trump its competitors by having a copper transport route to Angola. Together with Mota-Engil and Vecturis, it has responded to the call for tenders to manage the rail corridor between Kolwezi and Lobito.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 09.03.2022

Spotlight | Africa
Glencore strives to overtake rival Trafigura on "responsible" cobalt

Through the Fair Cobalt Alliance which it co-founded, Swiss trading giant Glencore aims to improve the social and environmental image of its Congolese cobalt operations. It hopes in this way to gain an advantage over its rival Trafigura, which in turn, is banking on its artisanal mining partnership with Gécamines.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders, Business 08.02.2022

An open pit at Tenke Fungurume, a copper and cobalt mine.

DRC
Trafigura's cobalt partnership threatened by top management changes at Gecamines

Even though it has not yet come into force, the Swiss trader's exclusive contract for the marketing of the DRC's artisanal cobalt has been called into question by the arrival of Alphonse Kaputo and Leon Mwine at the head of Gecamines.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity traders 20.01.2022

DRC
Yuma's sidelined rivals rise to top at Gécamines

The new Gécamines chairman, Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi, was for a long time sidelined by Albert Yuma, who has just been ousted from the helm of the state-owned mining company. It seems that the new managing director appointed at the same time was not a Yuma favourite either.

Subscribers only Mining 09.12.2021

DRC
Richard Muyej's marketing coup on Kolwezi mines

Lualaba governor Richard Muyej has been throwing his all into having Kolwezi, capital of the province formed from the breakup [...]

Subscribers only Mining 13.03.2018