Semaine 43 – du 25 au 31 octobre 2010

N° 145

Table des matières •

Mali trims 2010 gold production outlook to 50 T---------------------------------------------------------------- 2

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Vale Says India Likely to Play Bigger Role in Iron Ore Market `Tightness' --------------------------- 2

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Rio's Zim unit forecasts rise in 2010 diamond output --------------------------------------------------------- 4

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De Beers plans to raise output at Botswana mine ------------------------------------------------------------ 5

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Vale plans to invest up to US$20 billion in Africa --------------------------------------------------------------- 5

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Nippon Steel, POSCO to develop Mozambique coal mine---------------------------------------------- 6

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Rare earths not a bargaining tool - China ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7

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SA Gold miners profits hit by strong rand -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

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Egypt hopes to attract gold investors with new mining law --------------------------------------------- 9

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ArcelorMittal reports weak Q3, expects weaker Q4 --------------------------------------------------------- 10

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Côte d'Ivoire: Promotion des matières premières - Houston comprend la vision de la Côte d'Ivoire -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11

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Congo-Kinshasa: Pour la certification du diamant - Le pays préside le processus de Kimberley en 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

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Cameroun: Redevance superficiaire, au nom du code minier et de l'unicité des caisses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

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Gabon, CITIC to mine 26 mln T manganese resource ------------------------------------------------------ 16

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• Mali trims 2010 gold production outlook to 50 T BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali trimmed its 2010 gold production forecast to 50 tonnes from 52 tonnes due to output problems at some of the West African country's mines, the government said on Thursday. "Total production for the year is expected to be 50 tonnes," mines ministry official Djibroula Togola said. Mali, Africa's third largest gold producer behind South Africa and Ghana, produced 53.7 tonnes of gold in 2009. Togola said the lower forecast was due in part to technical issues hindering activity at Randgold Resources' Loulo mine, as well as lower-than-expected output at the Syala and Kodieran mines. (Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo; editing by Richard Valdmanis and Anthony Barker) http://af.reuters.com

• Vale Says India Likely to Play Bigger Role in Iron Ore Market `Tightness' Vale SA, the world’s biggest iron- ore producer, said India may play a bigger role in ensuring a “tight” future market for the steelmaking ingredient as it boosts infrastructure spending and becomes more urbanized. India “could come to contribute in a relevant way to the heating up of the iron-ore market in the medium-term,” Vale said. “We expect the iron-ore market to stay heated in the near future, given the lack of significant growth in supplies of high-quality iron ore and rising demand in China.” Vale said yesterday its third-quarter profit more than tripled, after prices for the raw material surged. China accounts for 46 percent of Vale’s iron-ore and pellet sales, while Japan takes 10 percent, South Korea buys 4.8 percent and India and other Asian nations receive 3.7 percent. “The company should continue to deliver ‘peak’ results over the next 2-3 years,” Barclays Capital analysts led by Leonardo Correa said in an e-mailed note to clients today. The market is expected to remain “undersupplied,” he said. Vale rose 34 centavos, or 0.7 percent, to 49.06 reais at 9:48 a.m. New York time in Sao Paulo trading. The stock rose 15 percent this year until yesterday, more than the 2.9 percent gain for Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa index. The company based in Rio de Janeiro is boosting capacity at Carajas, the world’s largest ironore mine, and may surpass OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel as the world’s largest nickel company next year, Chief Executive Officer Roger Agnelli said Oct. 20. Performances Veille

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Profit Climbed Third-quarter profit climbed to $6.04 billion, or $1.13 a share, from $1.68 billion, or 31 cents, in the year-ago period, Vale said yesterday in a regulatory filing. The company was expected to post per-share profit of $1.03 on an adjusted basis, according to the average of 13 analysts in a Bloomberg survey. The results, based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, were released yesterday after regular trading. Quarterly profit topped a previous record of $5.01 billion in the second quarter of 2008. Vale and rivals BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group this year broke with a system of setting ironore prices once a year in favor of quarterly agreements. Prices more than doubled in the quarter to $128.21 per ton, from $57.23 a year earlier, Vale said. Sales volumes were little changed at 68 million tons, compared with 66.8 million tons in the year earlier period. The iron-ore market will likely remain “tight” in the near future because of a lack of new supply and increasing demand from China, the world’s largest consumer. The nation is looking to higher ore grades such as those from Brazil because it can help reduce the nation’s energy usage, according to Vale. ‘Important Contributor’ India is a “potential important contributor to medium-term tightness of the iron ore market,” Vale said. The country’s urbanization rate is 30 percent compared with China’s 47 percent, its industry is small in relative terms and the government plans to boost infrastructure spending, Vale said. Asia’s third-largest economy will consume more steel than previously expected on increased demand from construction companies and carmakers, according to the nation’s steel ministry. Consumption may increase 10 percent in the year ending March 31, compared with an April 6 forecast of a 9 percent increase, the ministry said Sept. 6. Consumption climbed 9.7 percent to 24.8 million metric tons between April and August, from 22.6 million tons in the year-earlier period. India, ranked below war-ravaged Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka for the quality of infrastructure, needs to spend $2.2 trillion by 2030 on transportation, housing and office space in its cities to accelerate growth, McKinsey & Co. said April 22. ‘Full Capacity’ “Our operations around the world are working at full capacity,” Agnelli said last week at an investor event in New York. Vale is “in the best moment of our history,” he said. Vale is planning to start producing the mineral from Guinea’s Simandou project by the end of 2012. The company is also investing to expand production of non-ferrous minerals, including copper and fertilizers. Vale said Oct. 18 that third-quarter iron-ore output increased 24 percent amid rising demand. The company produced 82.6 million tons of the steelmaking raw material in the quarter, the highest since record output of 85.8 million tons in the third quarter of 2008. Performances Veille

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Carajas Output Carajas’s output rose 21 percent to a record 27 million tons after the end of some operational problems in the port terminal of Ponta da Madeira, Vale said. An improvement in the performance of the Carajas railway and the end of the rainy season in the Amazon also contributed to the increase, the company said in a regulatory filing last week. Vale is selling all its output and benefiting from growth in China, South Korea and Brazil, Agnelli said. Demand for metals in Europe is “only okay” and “not getting worse,” he said. www.bloomberg.com

• Rio's Zim unit forecasts rise in 2010 diamond output The Global miner's Zimbabwe unit said diamond production should increase this year from the 124,000 carats produced in 2009 but didn't give an exact figure Global miner Rio Tinto's Zimbabwe unit expects a rise in diamond output this year from 124,000 carats produced in 2009, its managing director said on Wednesday, but production will be flat in 2011. The unit, Murowa, is 78 percent owned by Rio Tinto, while RioZim Limited -- a wholly Zimbabwean-owned unit that spun off from Rio Tinto in 2004 -- controls the remainder. "(There will be an) increase over last year following a small plant upgrade to handle harder ore completed towards the end of 2009," Murowa managing director Neils Kristensen said in an emailed response to questions from Reuters. He did not give details on how much the company expects output to rise. Output at the mine was up at 85,939 carats during the first six months of this year, compared with 67,000 carats in the same period in 2009. Kristensen said there will be "no significant changes" in output in 2011. Murowa, with a design capacity of 300,000 carats, suffered a $5 million loss during the first half of this year due to lower gem grades and a ban on diamond sales by the government. Zimbabwe had banned all diamond exports until stones from the government's controversial Marange fields, where it now operates three joint venture mines, were certified by industry regulators. Certification includes ensuring there have been no human rights violations in the diamond trade. Kristensen said Murowa resumed diamond exports at the end of August, after the government sold its first batch of certified Marange diamonds.

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He said a feasibility study to increase output to 1.8 million carats was still underway. Kristensen also said the company was still waiting for regulations that would determine the quantity of shares mining firms should transfer to locals under a government empowerment drive. The government early this year published rules forcing foreign-owned firms, including mines and banks, to cede 51 percent of shares to blacks but has since set up committees to recommend ownership levels for different economic sectors. © Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved

• De Beers plans to raise output at Botswana mine JWANENG, Botswana (Reuters) - Botswana's Jwaneng mine, the richest diamond mine in the world, plans to produce 102 million carats worth $15 billion over seven years at its Cut 8 expansion project. The expansion of Jwaneng mine, which is operated by Debswana Diamond Company, will cost its shareholders -- De Beers and the Botswana government -- $3 billion to extend the mine's life by seven years from 2017 to 2024. Jwaneng mine general manager Balisi Bonyongo said at the project site, 170 kilometres southwest of the capital Gaborone that the company would remove 658 million tonnes of waste material to more than double the deepening of the mine to 650 metres to create a 'super pit' and mine for more diamonds. "Cut 8 will not ...increase the amount of diamonds produced by Jwaneng, but rather enable us to continue our current production levels to sustain the mine," Bonyongo told journalists during a tour of the mine. (Writing by Shapi Shacinda) http://af.reuters.com

• Vale plans to invest up to US$20 billion in Africa Brazilian mining giant Vale plans to invest up to US$20 billion (R136 billion) in projects in Africa over the next five years much more than the US$2.5 billion (R17 million) spent on projects there so far. The company which is the world's largest iron ore miner said in an interview here that it could become one of the top three copper producers on the continent, but that it was also targeting significant investments in coal and iron ore.

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Reuters reports that Vale and a number of other Brazilian firms have expanded their interests in Africa under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who steps down this year, having led a diplomatic push onto the continent urging Brazilian firms to invest there. The company revealed that most of the US$20 billion (R136 billion) it would invest in Africa would be spent in Mozambique, Zambia, Guinea and Liberia. Vale said it had a vision to be among the top three players in copper mining in Africa. It pointed out that the high-grade copper in the Copperbelt meant the capital required to have an operation there was not high compared to other regions. Vale has a US$1.3 billion (R8.8 billion) coal project in Mozambique that is due to begin production next year. It also has a stake in the vast Simandou iron ore deposit through a US$2.5 billion (R17 billion) deal with BSG Resources. The company is also eyeing copper opportunities in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola, while it has launched an exploration programme for coal in Tanzania. http://www.miningreview.com/

• Nippon Steel, POSCO to develop Mozambique coal mine TOKYO - Nippon Steel Corp jointly with three other firms will start development of a 5 million tonnes-per-year hard coking coal mine in Mozambique in 2012 to secure raw material supplies and boost its self-sufficiency rate. Nippon Steel, which has taken a 23.3 percent stake, aims to acquire 1.7 million tonnes a year of high-grade hard coking coal from the $600 million project after the mine starts producing in 2014 or 2015, a company spokesman said on Thursday. That will account for a quarter of its annual need for hard coking coal of 12 million tonnes, now supplied mostly by Australian miners such as BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance . World steelmakers are boosting investment in iron ore and coal mines as ballooning demand from China drives up prices of the steelmaking materials. Volatility in raw materials prices after a shift in pricing to a quarterly from an annual system early this year, has also proved hard to cope with for steelmakers, making it difficult for them to fully pass on higher costs to customers. Nippon Steel, the world's No.4 steelmaker, took over the stake in the Mozambique mine from its affiliate Nippon Steel Trading Co, which held a 33 percent stake. Australian resources company Talbot Group holds 58.9 percent of the project and South Korea's POSCO owns about 8 percent. Performances Veille

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The companies will complete a feasibility study by the end of 2011. Access to the project will raise Nippon Steel's self-sufficiency rate in coking coal to 30 percent from the current 25 percent. It buys a total 25 million tonnes of various types of coking coal annually. Brazilian mining giant Vale is engaged in an 11 million tonnes-per-year coal project in Mozambique. http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/

• Rare earths not a bargaining tool - China A spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information technology said the country would not use its dominance of the global rare earths supply as a bargaining tool with foreign economies China will not use its dominance of global rare earths supplies as a "bargaining tool" with foreign economies, a spokesman for the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Thursday. The spokesman, Zhu Hongren, made the comments after reduced shipments of the industrial ores to Japan ignited international concern that China could use its rare earth exports as an economic or political lever. "China will not use rare earths as an instrument for bargaining. Instead, we hope to cooperate with other countries in the use of rare earths on the basis of win-win outcomes and jointly protecting this unrenewable resource," Zhu told a news conference. The ministry is one of several in China that oversee rare earths. China supplies about 97 percent of the world's demand for rare earths metals, which possess magnetic, luminescent and other properties used in emerging clean energy technologies, computers and electronic. But Beijing has curtailed exports, saying it needs to protect reserves from reckless exploitation. This year it has slashed export quotas to about 40 percent below 2009 levels. The World Trade Organisation and the European Union said this week they were seeking a solution to German concerns about reported Chinese restrictions on exports of rare earths. The EU said it was watching China's actions for possible legal implications. The Chinese spokesman Zhu repeated his government's stance that controls on exports of rare earths were entirely within international trade rules. "China has exercised orderly management of the exploitation, production and export of rare earths, and this is also in line with WTO rules," Zhu said at the briefing. (Reporting by Aileen Wang, writing by Chris Buckley; Editing by Chris Lewis) © Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved Performances Veille

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• SA Gold miners profits hit by strong rand The strong rand is expected to limit the benefit of strong gold prices on september quarter profits for South Africa's gold miners The strong rand is expected to erode the benefit to September quarter earnings at Africa's top three gold producers of the rise in the metal's dollar price to record highs, a Reuters survey showed. The price of gold in the three months averaged a record $1,246 per ounce, up $51 per ounce or 4 percent on the previous quarter. South African gold producers sell their gold in dollars and pay their costs in rand. The average rand gold price improved 1 percent to 292,800 rand ($42,440) per kg. "The benefit of record gold prices should be more than offset by the stronger rand/dollar exchange rate and cash cost inflation," JP Morgan analyst Allan Cooke said in a note. The rand ZAR=D3 has risen nearly 27 percent since the start of 2009 and making matters worse for Gold Fields (GFIJ.J: Quote), Harmony Gold (HARJ.J: Quote) and AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J: Quote) are above-inflation wage and electricity tariff hikes. Gold's run to record highs is likely to maintain its current momentum for the rest of 2010, a snap poll of analysts conducted by Reuters earlier this month showed. Some see it performing well into 2011 as well. "Our bullish outlook for gold is driven by expected seasonal jewellery demand strength and increased investment demand due to uncertainty in global financial markets," RBC Capital Markets analyst Leon Esterhuizen said in a research note. DWINDLING OUTPUT South Africa's gold production has been dwindling, and fell by 5.8 percent in 2009, pushing the country to the fourth spot after China, Australia and the United States. The country was the world's largest gold producer for most of the last century up until 2006, but output has been hit by dwindling grades and stoppages of mines and shafts for safety-related reasons as companies mine ever deeper. Some South African gold mines reach depths of around 3.8 km. AngloGold, the world's third biggest and Africa's top gold producer, has said its third-quarter output would rise to 1.15 million ounces from 1.126 million ounces in the previous quarter, while total cash costs were expected to rise to $645 per ounce from $617.[ID:nLDE67A1NH] A poll of seven analysts forecast an adjusted headline loss of 24 U.S. cents per share for the September quarter. AngloGold, which has around 20 operations across four continents, posted adjusted earnings of 35 U.S. cents in the June quarter. Performances Veille

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Analysts said AngloGold's earnings are likely to be hit by payments related to the elimination of its hedge book. Headline earnings are the key profit measure in South Africa, stripping out some one-off and non-trading items. Gold Fields, the fourth-biggest producer in the world and Africa's second biggest, is expected to post adjusted earnings per share of 135 South African cents from 134 cents the previous quarter. Gold Fields earnings are adjusted to exclude the effects of financial instruments and foreign debt. Gold Fields said its attributable production during the September quarter is expected to be around 906,000 ounces, up from 898,00 ounces the previous three months, while cash costs were expected to rise to $715 an ounce from $688. Harmony, the fifth-biggest producer in the world and third-biggest in Africa, is expected to report headline earnings per share of 14 cents for the quarter, compared with a loss per share of 6 cents in the previous three months. The company said production for the quarter is likely to drop 3 percent compared with the previous three months due to closures of two of its shafts and temporary shutdowns at two others. Below is a summary of analysts' earnings forecasts, in South African cents per share for Gold Fields and Harmony and in U.S. cents per share for AngloGold. http://www.mineweb.com

• Egypt hopes to attract gold investors with new mining law The country is drafting legislation which, it hopes will boost investment in its mining sector in an effort to capitalise on the renewed interest in gold mining in its Eastern desert. Egypt is drafting new legislation to boost investment in its mining sector, a minister said in remarks published on Tuesday, as the country seeks to capitalize on renewed interest in gold mining in its Eastern Desert. Pharaohs once dug up gold in the desert to gild amulets and sarcophagi, but the industry faded in the 20th century largely because of curbs on foreign investment imposed by President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Other changes to Egypt's mining code in 2008 renewed interest, attracting firms such as Centamin and Canadian mining company Nuinsco.

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The Eastern Desert, littered with pharaonic mines, is now seen as a potentially lucrative source of gold. Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Sameh Fahmy said his ministry had finished drafting a new law to encourage investment in mining and protect the country's resources from being wasted, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported. The cabinet was reviewing the draft and will pass it along to parliament for ratification, Fahmy said. The ministry has drafted a mining map locating 120 gold mines it believes were used by the pharaohs, he said, adding that more than 100 foreign firms had shown interest. "We expect at least 50 international firms to be operating in Egypt in the coming period," Fahmy said. © Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved

• ArcelorMittal reports weak Q3, expects weaker Q4 The steelmaker forecast a much weaker-than expected fourth quarter as a result of muted demand, lower prices and higher costs; analysts had been expecting a marginal improvement ArcelorMittal (ISPA.AS: Quote), the world's largest steelmaker, forecast a far weaker fourth quarter than expected due to muted demand, lower prices and higher raw material costs. The company, whose output is more than double that of its nearest rival, said its shipments would pick up slightly, average steel prices would be lower than in the third quarter and iron ore and coal costs would be higher. Analysts had been expecting a marginal improvement. "In Q3 the business performed towards the lower end of our expectations against a background of seasonally lower volumes, weakening spot prices and higher costs," Chief Executive Lakshmi Mittal said in a statement. "Our outlook for Q4 remains cautious as the expected higher input prices continue to work through the business and demand remains muted, though with some regional differences," he added. ArcelorMittal said its much-watched core profit (EBITDA) would be between $1.5 billion and $1.9 billion in the fourth quarter, implying a 25 percent decrease from the third quarter. The market had on average forecast a figure of $2.4 billion, based on a Reuters poll of 10 analysts. The third-quarter figure of $2.27 billion was itself a 25 percent slide from the April-June period.

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The $500 billion steel industry, a bellwether for the broader economy, profited in the second quarter from a strong auto sector and booming demand in China, but since then both have cooled. Iron ore and coal costs rose, but steel prices did not. ArcelorMittal shares are 22 percent down this year and around 29 percent off a peak hit in April. The STOXX European basic resources index has risen 11 percent so far this year and is just 5 percent off its April high. Rivals such as world number three POSCO (005490.KS: Quote) and Nucor Corp (NUE.N: Quote) have already reported lower-than-expected third-quarter results, the former cutting its 2010 forecast, the latter warning of uncertainty. U.S. Steel (X.N: Quote) and AK Steel AKS.L report third-quarter results later on Tuesday. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by David Cowell) © Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved

• Côte d'Ivoire: Promotion des matières premières Houston comprend la vision de la Côte d'Ivoire Dans le cadre du programme de sortie de crise et de promotion des opportunités économiques de la Côte d'Ivoire sur le marché international, le cabinet juridique international Pkd Conseil a organisé, du 6 septembre au 10 septembre 2010, un "forum de promotion des matières premières minières, pétrolières et énergétiques pour l'industrialisation de la Côte d'Ivoire" au Mariott Hotel à Houston (Usa). "L'enjeu du développement économique et social de la Côte d'Ivoire devrait s'orienter vers une véritable politique audacieuse et courageuse de transformation des matières premières agricoles et une politique concrète d'industrialisation de nos matières premières en vue d'un réel transfert de compétences et de technologies", a souligné le directeur général du Cabinet PKD Conseil, Me Pierre Djemis, à l'ouverture de ce forum placé, sous le patronage du président de la République Laurent Gbagbo. Cette vision énoncée par l'initiateur du forum a bénéficié du soutien de l'ambassadeur de Côte d'Ivoire aux Etats-Unis, Sem Charles Yao Koffi, qui exprime toute la disponibilité de l'ambassade de Côte d'Ivoire aux Usa et du gouvernement de Côte d'Ivoire pour "cette initiative pleine d'audace". Aussi, la chargée des relations économiques de la ville de Houston, M≤ Helen Chang, a-telle apprécié cette "initiative de renforcement de la coopération entre la ville de Houston et la Côte d'Ivoire pour des projets mutuels dans les secteurs des mines et de l'énergie", et a proposé au cabinet de Me Pierre Djemis d'être un conseil stratégique en vue d'une signature de coopération entre la ville de Houston et l'Etat de Côte d'Ivoire.

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Précédemment, du 17 mai au 21 Mai 2010, le cabinet PKD Conseil avait organisé à l'Intercontinental Hôtel de Shanghai (Chine) la troisième édition du Forum de promotion des matières premières et des grands projets d'infrastructures économiques pour l'industrialisation de la Côte d'Ivoire sous la même thématique : identifier des projets industriels ivoiriens avec la participation de la Petroci, la Gestoci, la Sopie, la Sogepe, l'Anare, Ageroute, l'Onep en vue d'une industrialisation certaine de nos secteurs d'activités minière, pétrolière et énergétique. Le ministre des Mines et de l'Energie, M. Augustin Komoé Kouadio, a souligné l'importance de l'industrialisation de nos matières premières avec des pays émergents comme la Chine afin de bénéficier d'un réel développement pour la Côte d'Ivoire. L'ambassadeur de la Côte d'Ivoire, Alain Nicaise Papatchi Coffie, et le directeur général du Cabinet PKD ont fait chorus avec lui. ©AFP

• Congo-Kinshasa: Pour la certification du diamant Le pays préside le processus de Kimberley en 2011 La République démocratique du Congo assumera, en 2011, la présidence du processus de Kimberley pour la certification du diamant. Cette annonce a été faite le lundi 25 octobre 2010 par le ministre des Mines. Martin Kabwelulu a donné l'information à l'ouverture de la 6ème édition du forum d'hommes d'affaires dénommé IPAD, (Infrastructure en Afrique, partenariats pour le développement). Le Grand Hôtel Kinshasa a servi de cadre à ces travaux auxquels plusieurs opérateurs miniers ont pris part. Le thème central de cette édition porte sur : « Le secteur minier de la RDC ou les défis de la relance économique en RDC.» Le choix de la RDC à la tête du processus de Kimberley en 2011 est une preuve de plus, d'après le ministre de Mines, que le pays n'est pas un si mauvais élève. Il invite, par la même occasion, les nombreux hommes d'affaires présents à ce forum, à investir dans le secteur du diamant, du cuivre, du cobalt, du fer, du manganèse, et des pierres ornementales. Le ministre des Mines a apprécié à sa juste valeur l'adhésion de la République démocratique du Congo à l'Initiative pour la transparence dans l'industrie extractive (ITIE) et à l'Organisation pour l'harmonisation du droit des affaires en Afrique (Ohada). Selon lui, cette adhérence prouve à suffisance que la RDC a fourni beaucoup d'efforts dans l'amélioration du climat des affaires. Martin Kabwelulu a, par ailleurs, déclaré que la RDC a aussi limité, dans le domaine minier, le nombre de services habilités à intervenir dans la chaîne allant de l'extraction à l'exportation des minerais, en luttant contre les tracasseries. En effet, l'adhésion de la RDC au processus de Kimberley est l'un des éléments qui ont concouru à la hausse significative des exportations officielles de diamants, avait autrefois Performances Veille

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reconnu Global Witness. Cette ONG avait estimé qu'il incombe au gouvernement congolais de déployerLa République démocratique du Congo assumera, en 2011, la présidence du processus de Kimberley pour la certification du diamant. Cette annonce a été faite le lundi 25 octobre 2010 par le ministre des Mines. Martin Kabwelulu a donné l'information à l'ouverture de la 6ème édition du forum d'hommes d'affaires dénommé IPAD, (Infrastructure en Afrique, partenariats pour le développement). Le Grand Hôtel Kinshasa a servi de cadre à ces travaux auxquels plusieurs opérateurs miniers ont pris part. Le thème central de cette édition porte sur : « Le secteur minier de la RDC ou les défis de la relance économique en RDC.» Le choix de la RDC à la tête du processus de Kimberley en 2011 est une preuve de plus, d'après le ministre de Mines, que le pays n'est pas un si mauvais élève. Il invite, par la même occasion, les nombreux hommes d'affaires présents à ce forum, à investir dans le secteur du diamant, du cuivre, du cobalt, du fer, du manganèse, et des pierres ornementales. Le ministre des Mines a apprécié à sa juste valeur l'adhésion de la République démocratique du Congo à l'Initiative pour la transparence dans l'industrie extractive (ITIE) et à l'Organisation pour l'harmonisation du droit des affaires en Afrique (Ohada). Selon lui, cette adhérence prouve à suffisance que la RDC a fourni beaucoup d'efforts dans l'amélioration du climat des affaires. Martin Kabwelulu a, par ailleurs, déclaré que la RDC a aussi limité, dans le domaine minier, le nombre de services habilités à intervenir dans la chaîne allant de l'extraction à l'exportation des minerais, en luttant contre les tracasseries. En effet, l'adhésion de la RDC au processus de Kimberley est l'un des éléments qui ont concouru à la hausse significative des exportations officielles de diamants, avait autrefois reconnu Global Witness. Cette ONG avait estimé qu'il incombe au gouvernement congolais de déployer des efforts bien plus importants pour instaurer un système de contrôle puissant dans le secteur du diamant en RDC. Elle avait, par la même occasion, accueilli favorablement la décision de la RDC de se joindre à l'ITIE. Cependant, le processus de Kimberley et l'ITIE ne peuvent pas, à eux seuls, résoudre les problèmes du secteur du diamant en RDC. DES REFORMES FONDAMENTALES Des réformes fondamentales des systèmes gouvernementaux sont requises pour améliorer le secteur du diamant dans le pays. Ces réformes appellent une approche globale qui s'appuie sur l'amélioration des contrôles internes et de la transparence en tenant compte de la façon dont les profits tirés des diamants peuvent bénéficier aux communautés vivant de l'extraction de ces pierres précieuses et concourir au développement du pays. Le processus de Kimberley est une initiative commune regroupant des gouvernements, le Conseil mondial du diamant et des ONG afin de mettre un terme au commerce des diamants de conflits, des diamants bruts utilisés par les mouvements rebelles pour financer la lutte armée contre des gouvernements légitimes. Pendant des dizaines d'années, le commerce de ces pierres illégales a alimenté des conflits dévastateurs dans des pays comme l'Angola, la Côte d'Ivoire, la République démocratique du Congo ou la Sierra Leone.

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Le système de certification du processus de Kimberley impose à ses membres de nombreuses conditions afin de certifier que les échanges de diamants bruts ne servent pas à financer de conflits armés. Depuis septembre 2007, le processus de Kimberley compte 48 participants représentant 74 pays, l'Union européenne et ses États membres comptant comme un seul participant. Les membres du processus de Kimberley représentent environ 99,8 % de la production mondiale de diamants bruts. L'origine du processus de Kimberley remonte à mai 2000, lorsque les pays producteurs de diamants d'Afrique australe se sont réunis à Kimberley, en Afrique du Sud, pour débattre des moyens de mettre un terme au commerce illégal des « diamants de conflits » et veiller à ce que le commerce des diamants ne finance aucune forme de violence. Selon les spécialistes du secteur, les diamants des conflits représentent actuellement moins d'un pour cent des échanges internationaux, par rapport à 15 % dans les années 90. C'est la plus remarquable contribution du processus de Kimberley à la paix dans le monde, qui ne devrait pas se mesurer en carats mais en qualité de vie. Ils soutiennent que le processus de Kimberley a mis un frein au commerce de diamants des conflits, mais il a aussi permis de stabiliser des pays fragiles et soutenu leur développement. Des efforts bien plus importants pour instaurer un système de contrôle puissant dans le secteur du diamant en RDC. Elle avait, par la même occasion, accueilli favorablement la décision de la RDC de se joindre à l'ITIE. Cependant, le processus de Kimberley et l'ITIE ne peuvent pas, à eux seuls, résoudre les problèmes du secteur du diamant en RDC. DES REFORMES FONDAMENTALES Des réformes fondamentales des systèmes gouvernementaux sont requises pour améliorer le secteur du diamant dans le pays. Ces réformes appellent une approche globale qui s'appuie sur l'amélioration des contrôles internes et de la transparence en tenant compte de la façon dont les profits tirés des diamants peuvent bénéficier aux communautés vivant de l'extraction de ces pierres précieuses et concourir au développement du pays. Le processus de Kimberley est une initiative commune regroupant des gouvernements, le Conseil mondial du diamant et des ONG afin de mettre un terme au commerce des diamants de conflits, des diamants bruts utilisés par les mouvements rebelles pour financer la lutte armée contre des gouvernements légitimes. Pendant des dizaines d'années, le commerce de ces pierres illégales a alimenté des conflits dévastateurs dans des pays comme l'Angola, la Côte d'Ivoire, la République démocratique du Congo ou la Sierra Leone. Le système de certification du processus de Kimberley impose à ses membres de nombreuses conditions afin de certifier que les échanges de diamants bruts ne servent pas à financer de conflits armés. Depuis septembre 2007, le processus de Kimberley compte 48 participants représentant 74 pays, l'Union européenne et ses États membres comptant comme un seul participant. Les membres du processus de Kimberley représentent environ 99,8 % de la production mondiale de diamants bruts. Performances Veille

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L'origine du processus de Kimberley remonte à mai 2000, lorsque les pays producteurs de diamants d'Afrique australe se sont réunis à Kimberley, en Afrique du Sud, pour débattre des moyens de mettre un terme au commerce illégal des « diamants de conflits » et veiller à ce que le commerce des diamants ne finance aucune forme de violence. Selon les spécialistes du secteur, les diamants des conflits représentent actuellement moins d'un pour cent des échanges internationaux, par rapport à 15 % dans les années 90. C'est la plus remarquable contribution du processus de Kimberley à la paix dans le monde, qui ne devrait pas se mesurer en carats mais en qualité de vie. Ils soutiennent que le processus de Kimberley a mis un frein au commerce de diamants des conflits, mais il a aussi permis de stabiliser des pays fragiles et soutenu leur développement. http://fr.allafrica.com

• Cameroun: Redevance superficiaire, au nom du code minier et de l'unicité des caisses Le conflit de compétence opposant la délégation régionale des Domaines et des Affaires foncières à son homologue de l'Industrie, des Mines et du Développement technologique au sujet du prélèvement de la taxe superficiaire par cette dernière en lieux et places de la première se justifie par l'interprétation par les deux parties de la loi n° 001 du 16 avril 2001 portant code minier et son décret d'application. Tout part d'une correspondance adressée à son ministre par le délégué régional des Domaines et des Affaires foncières de l'Est dans laquelle ce dernier évoque « l'article 139 du décret n° 2002/648/PM du 26 mars 2002 instituant code minier » pour relever que « les titulaires des autorisations d'exploitation des permis de reconnaissance et de recherche ainsi que des permis d'exploitation artisanale et des carrières sont soumis au paiement d'une redevance superficiaire annuelle qui tient lieu de taxe domaniale devant être recouvrée par la recette des domaines du ressort au moment de la liquidation de la taxe ad-valorem portant sur les mines » et dénoncer « la perception par les services miniers de la taxe superficiare en lieux et places des services domaniaux ». Pour l'initiateur de cette correspondance, « l'activité minière dense dans la région de l'Est constitue une assiette foncière imposable et la perception de cette taxe par le Mindaf augmenterait le taux de recouvrement des recettes (domaniales) ». Le délégué régional Mindaf-Est « souhaite que M. le Ministre saisisse le premier Ministre à l'effet de clarifier les procédures de perception de chacune des taxes évoquées dans le code minier ». A la délégation du Minimindt où nous nous sommes rendus ce samedi 16 octobre 2010, on est surpris de cette réaction qui devrait plutôt réjouir les voisins d'en face. En effet, « la perception de cette taxe superficiare par nos services ne vont pas à l'encontre des dispositions légales au Cameroun où tout l'argent récolté pour le compte l'Etat est reversé dans une seule caisse et peut être retracé lors des vérifications sur la base des quittances que nous délivrons à chaque

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fois » reconnaît le délégué M. Dimbélé Jean-Marie Sodéa. Pour lui, « il s'agit d'une revendication qui pourrait susciter des soupçons ». Ce, d'autant plus que les usagers rencontrés nous parlent de « disponibilité pendant les weekends des services miniers contrairement aux domaines qui arrêtent le travail le vendredi et considèrent le travail du samedi comme des tâches supplémentaires à monnayer ». Dans tous les cas, « la réponse avait déjà été donnée au délégué régional du Mindaf-Est et depuis lors, nous ne ressentons plus de secousses venant de leur côté » conclue M. Dimbélé. http://africa-info.org/

• Gabon, CITIC to mine 26 mln T manganese resource LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon and Chinese mining enterprise CITIC Dameng, a unit of CITIC Resources Holdings (1205.HK: Quote), should mine over 26 million tonnes of manganese from their M'Bembele mine over the next 25 years, the two sides said. The operation, whose start-up date has not yet been confirmed but was inked this week in Gabon, comes ahead of a planned separate listing for CITIC Dameng on the main board in Hong Kong. Gabon, the number No. 2 producer of manganese, is seeking to boost its output of the metal, used in steel and aluminium alloys, as part of a drive to diversify its economy away from dependence on oil and French firms. Zhang Longzhu, vice president of CICMHZ, the local company created to run the M'Bembele operation in Gabon's Moyen-Ogooue province, said that reserves were estimated at "over 26 million tonnes". Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Gabon's minister of mines, said 40 billion CFA ($84.71 million) would be invested in the project and production would start at around 800,000 tonnes per year and peak at just over 1 million tonnes for about 25 years. Neither official gave a start-up date for the operation. Gabon's manganese output slumped to around 2.2 million tonnes in 2009 due to falling demand after hitting 3.1 million tonneS. Mining accounts for a small percentage of Gabon's economy, but President Ali Bongo is seeking to boost the sector as his country's oil reserves start winding down. Bongo is also actively seeking investment from firms outside France, the former colonial power that has long-enjoyed a strong influence in the Central African nation.

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Gabon is due to buy a greater stake in Comilog, another manganese operation Gabon has with Eramet (ERMT.PA: Quote), Eramet said earlier this month. [ID:nLDE69J2IY] ($1=472.2 Cfa Franc) (Reporting by Phal Mezui Ndong Gualbert; writing by David Lewis; editing by Patrick Graham)

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