Luiswishi Mine
Encyclopedia
The Luiswishi mine is an open cut copper and cobalt mine in Katanga Province
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Production came to an end in 1962. In 1980 the state-controlled Gecamines
started fresh prospecting, but abandoned the project due to budgetary problems.
In 1998 Gécamines signed a contract with a subsidiary of Groupe Forrest International to re-open the mine.
Resources were estimated at between 7.5 and 8 million tons of ore graded 2.8% copper and 1.0% cobalt.
A joint venture between Gécamines and l'Enterprise Générale Malta Forrest was producing copper-cobalt concentrates from the mine, exported to OM Group
's Kokkola refinery in Finland
under a long-term supply contract.
In November 2002, Forrest announced that the mine would close for an indefinite period of time for a complete refurbishment and to make improvements to the flotation plant, which had been in continuous operation for 5 years.
The mine reopened in April 2003 and quickly resumed full production.
In December 2008 the mine closed again due to low cobalt prices.
Compagnie Miniere du Sud Katanga (CMSK) operates the mine, owned 60% by Enterprise Générale Malta Forrest, a subsidiary of Groupe Forrest International and 40% by Gecamines. CMSK was formed in January 2004 and owns the rights to Luiswishi mine and also to Luishia Mine, inactive as of 2011.
The ore is concentrated in CMSK's plant at Kinpushi before being shipped abroad for processing.
CMSK employs about 300 people directly, and another 350 serve as contractors.
CMSK produces 12,000 tons of copper annually and about 4,000 tons of cobalt. This is about 8% of world cobalt production.
published cables that they alleged showed that US officials were ignoring reports of dangerously high levels of radiation at Luiswishi mine, and implied that uranium was being separated from the ore which purportedly held only copper and cobalt.
Groupe Forrest International refuted rumors of radiation or illegal trading in uranium. Forrest noted that although uranium was present in the copper and cobalt ore from the mine, it was at far too low a grade to be exploited.
Forrest also said the radioactivity in the Luiswishi mine was largely lower than the European standards.
DRC government officials and United Nations personnel had visited the mine and found no problems.
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Early years
Luiswishi was one of the first copper and cobalt mines to be exploited in Katanga by Belgium, opened around 1900.Production came to an end in 1962. In 1980 the state-controlled Gecamines
Gécamines
Gécamines, or La Générale des Carrières et des Mines, is a state-owned mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo . Its principal products are copper , cobalt and zinc...
started fresh prospecting, but abandoned the project due to budgetary problems.
In 1998 Gécamines signed a contract with a subsidiary of Groupe Forrest International to re-open the mine.
Resources were estimated at between 7.5 and 8 million tons of ore graded 2.8% copper and 1.0% cobalt.
Later operations
As of 2002, the Mine was estimated to have a production capacity of about 4,500 tonnes per year of cobalt in concentrates.A joint venture between Gécamines and l'Enterprise Générale Malta Forrest was producing copper-cobalt concentrates from the mine, exported to OM Group
OM Group
OM Group Incorporated is a metal-based chemistry firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was ranked #992 on the 2009 Fortune 1000. It is a provider of speciality chemicals, advanced materials and technologies.- Overview :...
's Kokkola refinery in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
under a long-term supply contract.
In November 2002, Forrest announced that the mine would close for an indefinite period of time for a complete refurbishment and to make improvements to the flotation plant, which had been in continuous operation for 5 years.
The mine reopened in April 2003 and quickly resumed full production.
In December 2008 the mine closed again due to low cobalt prices.
Compagnie Miniere du Sud Katanga (CMSK) operates the mine, owned 60% by Enterprise Générale Malta Forrest, a subsidiary of Groupe Forrest International and 40% by Gecamines. CMSK was formed in January 2004 and owns the rights to Luiswishi mine and also to Luishia Mine, inactive as of 2011.
The ore is concentrated in CMSK's plant at Kinpushi before being shipped abroad for processing.
CMSK employs about 300 people directly, and another 350 serve as contractors.
CMSK produces 12,000 tons of copper annually and about 4,000 tons of cobalt. This is about 8% of world cobalt production.
Alleged safety issues
In December 2010 WikileaksWikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
published cables that they alleged showed that US officials were ignoring reports of dangerously high levels of radiation at Luiswishi mine, and implied that uranium was being separated from the ore which purportedly held only copper and cobalt.
Groupe Forrest International refuted rumors of radiation or illegal trading in uranium. Forrest noted that although uranium was present in the copper and cobalt ore from the mine, it was at far too low a grade to be exploited.
Forrest also said the radioactivity in the Luiswishi mine was largely lower than the European standards.
DRC government officials and United Nations personnel had visited the mine and found no problems.