南非矿业巨头将于2025年向刚果布磷肥项目投资3600亿CFA

Mines: Patrice Motsepe will invest 360 billion CFA francs in phosphate exploitation in Congo in 2025

The effective launch of the activities of the plant intended to transform the nitrogen and potash deposits located in the Kuilou region in northern Congo is planned for May 2025.

After giving assurances last year to the President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso on the quality of the phosphate that will be produced by the Congo, the South African businessman Patrice Motsepe, boss of the mining company African Rainbow capital (ARC), and also president of the African Football Confederation, announced to the Congolese head of state, on April 24, 2024 in Brazzaville, that the launch of the activities of the phosphate production factory in the locality of Hinda, very rich in nitrogen and potash, in the Kouilou department, not far from the oil and mining town of Pointe-Noire, will take place in May 2025.

For this, it will invest 600 million dollars or 360 billion CFA francs for the exploitation of these deposits which are 800 meters wide and spread over 20 kilometers. The overall reserves of these deposits which cover a total area of ​​263.68 km2 are estimated at 432 million tonnes for an annual production which fluctuates between 2 and 4 million tonnes spread over 26 years. The exploitation of the deposit, which is located 40 kilometers from the Congolese coast, will allow the creation of nearly 1,000 jobs, including 500 direct jobs, which could reach a volume of 4,000 jobs when the project reaches its cruising phase.

In August 2022, in fact, the boss of African Rainbow Capital reactivated the project to exploit several fertilizers in Congo, including nitrogen and potassium, two elements which are part of the composition of phosphate. The project was previously to be operated by Congolaise des Mines du Congo, a subsidiary of Canadian Cominco Resources Ltd.