Mining, as a foundation sector in the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is now reliant for its future growth and positive broader impacts on an enabling ecosystem – which includes infrastructure that is both fit-for-purpose and resilient.
The range of infrastructure from roads and rail to energy and water facilities is essential to facilitating logistics and trade in the DRC, paving the way not only for mining’s growth but for the blossoming of other industries which can create a more diversified and inclusive economy.
Since establishing the local practice in Lubumbashi a decade ago, SRK Consulting has seen significant developments in mining and these are driving a greater need for supporting infrastructure.
Land of Opportunity
Among the large works underway is the Lobito Corridor, linking the copper belt centres such as Ndola, Chingola, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean. This reiterates the positive changes over the past 10 years, and their anticipated continuation given the global demand for copper.
This central region of Africa is set to deliver enormous opportunity, which can be fostered if well planned and designed infrastructure is put in place. Of course, it is not only mining that will benefit from these investments, but the regional economy as a whole, opening doors for other sectors to flourish.
The acceleration of mining projects in the region is not just about quantity and production. There is also a growing focus on bringing operations up to international standards, not least in the field of environmental impact assessments.
Standards Raise the Bar
Mines develop over large areas, and the environmental impact is substantial on a site-by-site basis but also cumulatively as operations open in close proximity to one another. As more international financial institutions and investors are drawn into this economy, there is an increased expectation to meet global sustainability standards, responsible mining standards and lenders’ environmental and social safeguards.
For instance, more local mines are extending their compliance beyond national regulations and aligning to the Copper Mark, to promote sustainable and responsible sourcing of copper. The Copper Mark also raises the bar for the operation and management of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs), as it requires that tailings management lines up with widely supported good practice guidelines, such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) with TSFs representing critical infrastructure on mining operations.
As more companies adopt or align their practices with – these international standards, they need to upgrade various aspects of their TSFs. This requires specialised services beginning with tailings engineering and extending to environmental, social and governance (ESG) and disaster management.
