Om Groupstaying The Course In Katanga

摘要

With its rich deposits in copper, cobalt, coltan, diamonds and other minerals the Democratic Republic of Congo could be one of the richest countries in Africa. Estimates have put its mineral wealth at about $24 trillion, an equivalent to the GDP of both the US and Europe combined. In the 1980's, the DRC was the world's fourth largest producer of industrial diamonds and these continue to dominate exports. The DRC's main copper and cobalt interests are dominated by Gecamines, the state-owned mining organization.rnIn the Katanga province vast reserves of copper exist. Estimates total 55.5 million tons of copper and 3.6 million tons of cobalt Recently, in a move to improve international trade, new mining contracts were approved, which, together with the high mineral and metal prices, could have improved DRC's GDP growth. Implementing the new DRC Mining code also renewed interest by the international mining industry and DRC, despite the war, crime, hunger and misery seemed to be rearing to go. However, the global economic crisis is threatening the fragile economy of this country, adding to the woes it has already undergone in much of its political and economic history, and Katanga has especially taken a beating.