(Ecofin Agency) - Until now, the main tin miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were Alphamin Resources and artisanal miners. However, the country is about to welcome a new player, Rome Resources.

Rome Resources steadily moves in the DRC’s tin industry. On August 20, the company announced the initial results from its drilling program launched earlier this month at the Bisie North project in North Kivu, revealing high tin grades.

Rome Resources reported that a drill hole reaching a depth of 164.5 meters at the Kalayi prospect intersected mineralization with tin grades ranging from 1.03% to 7.12%. "We are excited to see visible tin mineralization in several intervals from the first hole of this drilling campaign and look forward to sharing analysis results as they become available," said CEO Paul Barrett.

The company is also taking steps to produce a mineral resource estimate by the end of the year. This week, for example, two new drilling rigs were mobilized at the site, making it three in total.

While industrial tin production in the DRC is dominated by Alphamin Resources, Rome Resources' success would be a significant milestone. Indeed, this could enhance the country's position in the global tin market–a market currently dominated by Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar.