Exclusive: Disputed Congo report says miners owe $3.7 billion in tax, fines

Democratic Republic of Congo is owed an estimated $3.7 billion in unpaid customs duties and fines by companies operating in its copper-rich Katanga province between 2008 and 2013, according to an unpublished report commissioned by the public prosecutor's office. The report...accused companies there of under-declaring the value of imports and exports, and sometimes avoiding tax altogether, often with the collusion of customs officials...Some companies named in the report questioned the accuracy of its findings. The head of the customs agency in Katanga also said proper consultations had not been held with the companies and the report's findings were exaggerated...[The report] found that 11 companies were liable for $741 million in unpaid taxes and fines, including Mutanda Mining...69 percent-owned by Glencore Xstrata...Glencore strongly denied any wrongdoing and said the report was inaccurate...Chemaf [part of Shalina Group]...also denied its findings...In a letter to ASADHO, a local human rights group...Public Prosecutor Numbi rejected a demand to publish the report and said it was too early to draw conclusions from investigations. [also refers to Psaro, United Petroleum, United Oil & Soap (all part of Hyper Psaro Group); Comexas, Socimex, Sabot, Marine International, Frontier, Congo Loyal, Trade Service]