Diane Kasongo is an engineering trailblazer
Growing up in Kipushi, DRC, Diane Kasongo always knew she was forging her own path. In a region where few women enter engineering, Diane stood out. Her academic journey began at OUA Primary School, where she earned her primary education diploma. She quickly gravitated toward technical fields, starting her secondary education at Tutumike Professional Technical Institute before transferring to Mutoshi Technical Institute in Kolwezi. There, she graduated with a State diploma in Industrial Engineering.
Diane continued her academic route, enrolling at the University of Lubumbashi’s Polytechnic. Her education was hands-on from the beginning. She gained field experience during a six-month internship at Compagnie Minière du Sud-Katanga (CMSK), her first encounter with the mining industry. Eager to broaden her expertise, she later undertook an internship in metallurgy at Kibali Gold.
Diane also spent time teaching chemistry, math, and physics at the Mulumba Lukoji Institute in Kipushi, inspiring the next generation of students.
Her professional career took a leap forward in 2020, when Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) brought her on board as a metallurgical technician and later as a metallurgist at the Luilu plant. Four years later, Diane returned to her roots joining KICO as an engineer responsible for metallurgical accounting. In her current role, she measures the quantities of ore extracted from the mines and processed by the plant, work that is crucial to the company’s operations.
Diane says the welcome she received at KICO made her feel instantly at home. She’s proud to contribute to the growth of Kipushi town and is optimistic about the it’s future. Outside work, Diane’s passion for leadership and community was shaped in part during her time as a girl scout at Mutoshi Technical Institute, a fitting foundation for someone who’s breaking new ground in her hometown.
