China Molybdenum's Congo mine blames mining tax, low metal prices for loss

GOMA (DRC) - Sliding copper and cobalt prices as well as a heavy tax has affected the profitability of one of the biggest copper and cobalt mines in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), China Molybdenum-owned Tenke Fungurume.

The miner says the DRC’s new mining code which increased the tax rate for cobalt, angering multinational mining companies operating in the country, has affected its operations.

It has told employees it had missed production targets and is operating at a loss.

Tenke Fungurume Mining, which is 80 percent owned by China Molybdenum with the remainder controlled by state mining company Gecamines, also said power failures, issues with production equipment, and a deteriorating ore grade contributed to the target miss.

“The company is in a deficit zone,” a letter from management sent to employees on August 16 read.

China Molybdenum did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tenke Fungurume is also grappling with trespassing from illegal miners, which came to a head in June when Congo’s military deployed hundreds of soldiers to protect the mine.

The mine’s struggles reflect a more difficult operating environment for miners in DRC in general. Glencore earlier this month said it would halt production at its Mutanda cobalt mine in DRC, the world’s biggest, for an expected two years, citing DRC’s revised mining code among the factors behind the decision.

Tenke Fungurume management acknowledged the move in the letter, saying “some mining companies are reducing or stopping overall production to cope with the current situation.”