Mining

DRC: Failure at KOV mine results in five missing and two dying

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 18:00

Katanga Mining, subsidiary of Swiss Giant Glencore, said on Tuesday March 8, 2016, that as a result of a geotechnical failure at its KOV open-pit project in Democratic Republic of Congo, two miners died and 5 others were reported missing. The company also revealed that the failure caused an unknown amount of damage to the dewatering infrastructure in the pit.

The firm mobilized its research and rescue team to find the missing workers and assess damages and valorization of the infrastructure.

The accident occurred while miners were working on dewatering the pit. In 2007, dewatering was initiated after the mine then inactive was flooded, by 10 to 12 cubic meter of water.

In September last year, the Company decided to stop processing copper and cobalt in DRC, for 18 months, and continue investing up to $880 million into on-going processing plants upgrades and stripping of KOV and Mashamba open pits by establishing a new leach plant.

The KOV mine is the world’s biggest source of high-quality copper. It contains four ore bodies namely, Kamoto East, Oliveira, Virgule and FNSR, accessible via the Kamoto East and KOV pits. With it, Katanga Mine produced in 2015, 225,000 tons of copper and cobalt for a turnover of $670 million.

Louis-Nino Kansoun

On the same topic
The European Union launched PanAfGeo+ Invest to promote EU investments in critical minerals across Africa. The program targets Democratic Republic of...
Tshisekedi orders Grand Inga agreements finalized within 60 days Government to adopt legal framework to unlock World Bank support Inga 3...
Equatorial Guinea prepares offshore oil licensing round Reprocessed seismic data to attract investors, improve subsurface insights Move aims...
Damaged Russian LNG tanker drifting crewless toward Libyan coast Vessel hit by Ukrainian drone, carrying fuel and residual LNG Libya leads...
Most Read
01

Telecel Ghana to boost network investment by 150% in 2026 Expansion targets capacity, reliabi...

Telecel Ghana plans 150% investment increase in MTN-dominated market
02

Namibia and Russia agreed to expand cooperation across energy, mining, and agriculture. Both coun...

Namibia and Russia Expand Economic Cooperation Across Key Sectors
03

Togo parliament adopts WAEMU law against currency counterfeiting Bill defines offences including ...

Togo Passes Law to Criminalize Counterfeiting of West African CFA Franc
04

Cameroon signs MoUs for $1.5 billion waste-to-energy projects Plans target waste treat...

Cameroon Signs $1.5 Billion Waste-to-Energy MoUs Amid Urban Sanitation Strain
05

Four years after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the fertilizer market is facing a new shock as m...

Hormuz Tensions Rattle Fertilizer Markets, Adding Pressure to Global Food Supply
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.