In recent months, cases of disease have been reported in the Mano-Mapia community, located near Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), a subsidiary of the Chinese group CMOC which operates a "30k" copper and cobalt processing plant in the vicinity. Health problems blamed on the TFM factory, according to a local NGO. But contested by the mine.

TFM said in a press release that it had carried out studies with an organisation specialising in environmental monitoring. "The methods used for these samples have been validated and are widely used in Europe, ensuring accurate and reliable analysis. The results of these studies, finalized on April 15, confirm that the emission levels of the 30K plant are strictly in line with IFC (International Finance Corporation) standards," reassures the company.

1,500 families evicted in exchange for financial compensation

Despite these consistent results, TFM chose to relocate about 1500 families from the Mano-Mapia district. An operation carried out to preserve social peace and maintain good relations, thus highlighting the dilemma faced by mining companies under the pressure of public opinion, with few other options available.

The populations of the local community, i.e. about 1,500 households, will be evicted in exchange for financial compensation. "It's good news that TFM has agreed to move us," a resident of the area told RFI, while land estimates are underway to set the price of repairs. "We evaluate the land, its surface area and the fields. Are there trees or agricultural products? ", says Deo Maloba, spokesperson for civil society in Fungurume.

A mine "strictly compliant" with environmental standards

For several years, in a mining sector that has been at the heart of all the attention of social and environmental rights defenders, CMOC, TFM's parent company, has been trying to align its mining standards with the highest international level. A member of the Fair Cobalt Alliance, which aims to implement very strict standards in cobalt mining, CMOC is also one of the first international mining companies to be able to claim an MSCI ESG AA rating.

TFM maintains a robust Environmental Management System (EMS), certified to ISO 14001 standards. TFM is also investing in a range of projects to improve production efficiency, reduce the impact of its activities on the local environment and achieve CMOC Group's environmental performance targets.

According to the media Financial Afrik, TFM has "recently adopted an action plan aimed in particular at improving its energy efficiency, and finally, at capturing and storing CO2" to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while recalling that TFM has paid, since its launch of TFM, "6,063 billion US dollars in cumulative taxes and charges for the DRC".

Provincial government investigation underway

However, the provincial government of Lualaba has set up a commission since February to investigate these accusations, in which TFM is taking part. Its results, which have not yet been made public, should provide a clearer picture.