Glencore holds Annual Conference in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Kinshasa 2024
Global mining company Glencore welcomed esteemed guests to its 6th annual conference on October 8, 2024, in Kinshasa, where Glencore DRC gathers a broad cross section of key stakeholders for an annual exchange.
The event has become an important platform to engage in critical issues affecting the DRC mining sector while showcasing the efforts that industrial miners, like Glencore, are making in the areas of ESG, traceability and sustainability.
Glencore has been present in the DRC since 2007, producing copper and cobalt through its industrial assets Kamoto Copper Company (KCC), which is jointly owned with Gécamines holding 25%, and Mutanda Mining (MUMI), in which the Congolese state has a 5% shareholding. In 2023, Glencore’s operations in DRC paid close to USD 1 billion in contributions to the DRC government.
This year’s event included participation from special speakers including H.E.M Kizito Pakabomba, Minister of Mines, H.E.M Chasper Sarott, Ambassador of Switzerland to the DRC, Guy-Robert Lukama the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gécamines, Mrs Marie Gabriel Opese, the General Director of Standard Bank in the DRC, H.E.M Joelle Kona, the Vice-President of the CNDH, and Anna Krutikov the Head of Sustainable Development at Glencore International. All made important contributions to the discussion on the sustainability of DRC’s mining sector, via keynote speeches and participation in a panel session.
Annual Conference
Other notable attendees included, Mme Nicole Bwatshia Ntumba, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Presidency, Honorable Dominique Munongo, Deputy Speaker of Parliament as well members of the Diplomatic corps.
Marie-Chantal Kaninda, President of Glencore in the DRC and Chairperson of KCC, along with Mark Davis, CEO of Glencore Copper Africa, presented an update on the work of Glencore in the DRC, touching on the current challenges facing the industry, the performance of Glencore’s mining operations in the DRC, and ongoing activities to demonstrate ESG compliance at a global standard.
In her speech, Marie-Chantal Kaninda said, “As both a major trading company and one of the world’s largest mining companies, Glencore is in a strong position to understand and respond to the needs of its customers around the world, some of which source directly from our operations in the DRC. These partnerships and the role the DRC has to play in the energy transition are important factors in the country’s continued development.”
H.E. The Prime Minister, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, who was unable to attend in person contributed to the discussion through a video message, touching on the importance of responsible mining practices to help drive sustainable development that delivers lasting benefits to communities neighboring mining operations and the people of the DRC.
Glencore’s assets in DRC are certified by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and are working toward The Copper Mark assurance programme. The Copper Mark is one of the leading environmental, social, and governance (ESG) assurance frameworks that promote responsible practices across the copper value chain.
Mark Davis welcomed the renewal of KCC’s mining permits, a critical milestone for the future of one of the country’s biggest copper mines, saying “As one of the few Western major mining companies operating in the DRC, this renewal is a positive indicator of the continued efforts the DRC government is making to ensure an investor-friendly business environment”.
“Glencore is well placed globally to deliver on our purpose of responsibly sourcing the commodities that advance everyday life, and I am confident that our presence in the DRC is a core part of our global business proposition,” concluded Mark.
Glencore DRC made use of the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to working closely with national authorities, local and international partners, and surrounding communities to build a better and more sustainable future.
