Congo+Minerals

China Likely to Continue Investments in Congo-Brazzaville’s Mining Sector in the Next Five Years Despite China's Lack Of Transparency and Overall Mineral Investments And Exploration Activities
It is likely China will continue investments in Congo-Brazzaville’s mining sectors in the next five years despite China's lack of transparency and overall mineral investments and exploration activities. In 2008 the Yantai International Economic and Technical Cooperative Co., Ltd. explored a sylvine, a major potassium source reserve in Kouilou, Congo. There is no further information of the financial amount for this project, as well as start and end dates. Even though the Chinese President has pledged assistance to the other PNGSM sectors, the agreement was vague and not specific to what sectors would receive assistance. The minerals sector is largely unsurveyed; however common mineral deposits are known to exist, such as of gold, lead, zinc, uranium, magnesium, copper, iron ore, phosphates, potash and bauxite; however, the Chinese have made no movements on them. Over the next five years China will consider Congo and move on the mineral sector only if other mineral strong Sub-Saharan African countries start declining or the Congo discovers new mineral reserves to meet their demand.
 * Executive Summary: **

Congo's mineral explorations are largely unsurveyed; however deposits of gold, lead, zinc, uranium, magnesium, copper, iron ore, phosphates, potash and bauxite are known to exist. According to IHS Global Insight, a small quantity of diamonds, reportedly about 50,000 carats per year are extracted from alluvial mines in Likouala in the far northeast of the country, but nowhere near the scale of other operations. The minerals sector in Congo is not as significant as the petroleum sector; there is only one recorded Chinese investment in the country for minerals. In 2008 the Yantai International Economic and Technical Cooperative Co., Ltd. explored a sylvine, a major potassium source reserve in Kouilou, Congo. Due to a lack of transparency more information on this exploration project cannot be found however; the Chinese have explored the possibility of minerals in Congo but it is not as strategically important as other mineral-strong countries.
 * Discussion: **

** Analytic Confidence: **
Analytic confidence is medium. Source reliability ranges from medium to high. There is no conflict between sources. The analyst had low expertise on the subject, worked alone while also collaborating with a group, and did not use a structured analytic method. The subject is moderately complex and the deadline was moderately easy to meet.


 * Analyst: ** James Gibson