Die Kommunikation zwischen den DRC-Funktionären und den im Inland tätigen Minenkonzernen wird wieder rauer:
DRC officials berated for frustrating miners
David McKay | Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:45
[miningmx.com] – MARK Bristow, CEO of Randgold Resources, had some choice words for the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which he described as "a bit schizophrenic" in its endeavour to update its mining code.
One iteration of the code effectively handed 100% of the revenue to the government, leaving nothing for investors, he told delegates at the Mining Indaba on February 3. "That's a bad deal, and government concurred," he said.
"The biggest problem is the bureaucrats," he said. "The normalisation of the law is not in their interests because frustrating business is what they thrive on," he said.
"Our challenge to the government of the DRC is that we strongly recommend it keep the current code and rather look at its application," he said.
"Only a small part of sector is operating under the [mining] code as most of the companies are dealing with conventions or with parastatals [state-owned mining firms]. We don’t do side deals; we negotiate on clear laws," he said.
He added, however, that the company could not have built the Kibali gold mine [in joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti] in the DRC without the country's support.
Bristow's comments highlight an interesting development that although South Africa has its fair share of regulatory uncertainty, and a somewhat fluid organised labour situation, the country is no longer playing second fiddle to its African neighbours.
"There's a map showing that of the 100 richest mines in Africa, 51% are in South Africa," says Paul Miller, a banker with Nedbank Capital on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba conference. "We have a very good mining industry here," he says.
Ivanhoe Mines president, Robert Friedland, speaking at the conference on February 5, commented that South Africa "... is not a third world mining country, but a first world mining country".
"Notwithstanding the controversies at the moment, the weakness of the rand has made South Africa an attractive place to invest. There are grounds for optimism," he said.
Part of the reason is the slow down in the commodities market which has taken some of the zealous enthusiasm out of the pursuit of non-South African, African riches, and the weakness of the local currency, the rand.
It has also become harder to trade owing to political changes.
According to Bristow, top grade investible countries - which he describes in terms of his company's own risk map as 'A grade' countries - have disappeared.
"Mali will return to an 'A grade' country when democracy returns to that country," he said, acknowledging the presence of Mali's mines minister at his presentation.
In the main, however, every country where Randgold has an exploration target or a mine is a country requiring a lot of management, said Bristow..
Quelle: http://www.miningmx.com/page/special_reports/conf_cover/2014/indaba2014/1639243-DRC-officials-berated-for-frustrating-miners#.UvOo7NPh7nc
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