JOHANNESBURG — Insecurity around Société Minière de Bisunzu's (SMB) coltan mine in Democratic Republic of Congo could get worse if it is cut out of supply chains following a deadly grenade attack there, the company running the mine's mineral tracing scheme said. Up to three people were reported killed in the attack on June 23 in Kisura village, which is on an unmined part of SMB's vast mining concession known as PE 4731. SMB, which has some of Africa's largest deposits of the tantalum-rich ore coltan, has been using a digital tracing system since January 2019 to show its minerals are not mined by children or fund warlords and corrupt soldiers. The system, called the "Better Sourcing Program" (BSP), is run by Berlin-based RCS Global. "A disengagement from purchasing PE 4731 material, or for mining activities to stop, would be hugely detrimental to the security in the area and could worsen tensions, as occurred in 2018 when mining activity was temporarily suspended," RCS Global said.

Source: International New York Times July 05, 2020 14:03 UTC