CONGO-KINSHASA | CHINA
Thanks to a contract signed in Kinshasa on 18 March by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Corporation’s Vice-President Bai Ziangqian, State Assets Minister Louise Munga Mesozi and Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu Labilo, Anhui now has access to diamond reserves estimated to contain 158.8 million carats in Eastern Kasai Province. State-owned copper mining company Gécamines is lobbying for Chinese finance, the principal diamond parastatal Société Minière de Bakwanga (MIBA) is struggling and Sicomines, the Sino-Congolese copper and cobalt venture, is looking for money. The Anhui deal, therefore, marks another major advance for Chinese mining interests in Congo-Kinshasa.
GHANA | CHINA
The Ghana Immigration Service is to tighten up security at the country’s borders to stop the illegal entry of Chinese artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs). Police Commissioner Peter Alexander Wiredu has formed a specially trained and armed squad of 250 officers to monitor illegal immigration. Also in April, the Chinese and Ghanaian governments agreed to form a high-level committee to tackle the issue of Chinese miners.
GHANA | CHINA
Sinopec, the lead contractor on Ghana’s US$850 million gas project, halted work on 30 April citing payment delays and disputes with Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC).