As decision makers arrive in Lubumbashi for another DRC Mining Week, the recently initiated Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) is expected to stimulate discussions at this year's event. SRK Consulting teams from Africa and China comment on the recently initiated CMSI.
According to Dominique Sambwa, Chairman of SRK Congo, mining players in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are responding to the fast - evolving environmental, social and governance (ESG) landscape. "Having moved quite quickly from a state-controlled mining industry to one that encourages private investments, the DRC has been developing its local legislation," he said.
Sambwa added that at the same time, "Larger global companies operating in the DRC have been driving global standards and the prospects of a consolidated mining standard in the future is raising considerable interest."
DRC-China-SA Collaboration
Sambwa explained that the presence of many China - based mining companies in the DRC had led to concerted collaboration between SRK teams in China, the DRC and South Africa since 2022, assisting Chinese clients in compliance with local legislation and global standards.
Frank Li, Principal Geologist in SRK's Beijing practice, travels extensively to the DRC as part of this collaboration. Li added that "SRK's role in the DRC has expanded well beyond its technical services and into international standards compliance."
