Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) has asked Congolese authorities to reconsider a three-month ban on its Boss Mining unit’s copper and cobalt operations after the government accused the miner of polluting.
On June 2, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mines ministry halted Boss Mining’s Katanga operations after March flooding caused “enormous environmental damage” and deaths.
ERG blamed heavy rain for overflowing high-lying third-party tailings dams, flooding Boss Mining’s water storage facility and Kakanda River’s downstream banks. ERG said state and company investigators found no pollution.
“We reject any third-party rumours about the pollution,” ERG Africa said.
The incident occurred far from the processing plant, eliminating pollution. The unprecedented 21–22 March downpours caused the first incident of this kind. Post-disaster water analysis showed no pollution.”
The mines minister, Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, said mining companies polluting Africa’s largest copper producer and the world’s top cobalt supplier would be punished. The minister accused ERG of operating with an expired environmental clearance certificate and threatened to extend the three-month ban.
Kalambayi said ERG must repair community damage after providing financial, medical, and emergency supplies to flood victims. It said the temporary closure would affect ERG’s copper and cobalt production, workers, suppliers, and communities.
“Boss Mining is hoping that the minister will reconsider this suspension decision since there was no pollution and for all the rest there is a specific remedy,” it said.
According to African Natural Resources Watch executive director Emmanuel Umpula, Boss Mining’s Kakanda dam breached three times in March and April, harming surrounding communities and the environment.
“There was even loss of life,” Umpula said. Authorities could have acted faster. No one has identified those who lost family or property.
