Alphamin Resources has recommenced drilling at its Bisie tin prospect following assurances from the Democratic Republic of Congo government over security. An incident in July had resulted in all staff being evacuated from the site.
Bisie and the surrounding Walikale area in central DRC has been subject to ongoing disputes regarding the rights of artisanal miners, who undertook significant mining at Bisie between 2007 and 2010. Since the government backed Alphamin project took over operations in the area, future prospects for artisanal miners appear limited and this has contributed to the increased activity of several rebel groups and the subsequent disruption of exploratory drilling programmes. This is despite a commitment for substantial investment by Alphamin into the local community, equal to 4% of the project expenditure.
The DRC government has since pledged to ensure safety and stability in the area and along with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Congo (“MONUSCO”) has instituted actions to neutralize local rebel groups.
Whilst drilling at its Mpama South target is back underway, the resource and deep drilling program at Mpama North will not restart until October. The updating of the resource to NI 43-101 has also been delayed until the end of the year. Mine construction at Mpama North is scheduled for 2016 but whether new government action, which Alphamin say will allow them to “work uninterrupted until the eventual development of the mine at Bisie”, will be effective, remains to be seen.
