Kinshasa, August 24th, 2021 (CPA).– The Sino Congolese of Mines (SICOMINES SA) and the surrounding communities located in the region of the “SICOMINES” mining project, in particular the local community of Luilu and the Kapata district, located in Kolwezi, chief- in the province of Lualaba, have jointly agreed on a budget estimated at 11.5 million USD to finance the specifications for a five-year fiscal year, from 2021 to 2025.
SICOMINES represented by its Deputy Director General, Elie Tshingulie, and the local communities by its respective leaders, signed on Friday August 20 in Kolwezi, the commitment to respect these specifications, under the supervision of the provincial minister of mines of Lualaba, Jean-Marie Tshizainga, in the presence of the mayor of the municipality of Dilala, the head of the Luilu sector, civil society organizations and several other guests.
These specifications set out several projects established in several sectors, including roads; electricity; water supply; education; medical care; environment as well as agriculture.
For the provincial Minister of Mines Jean-Marie Tshizainga, this act of commitment materializes SICOMINES SA’s concern to respect, not only the mining law, but also to redistribute its income from industrial mining, to the populations affected by his activities.
“I would like to express my joy to see the company SICOMINES SA join its efforts to respect the innovations of law n * 18/001 of March 9, 2018. Through this signature, SICOMINES SA shows the will to comply and to respond favorably to the vision of the President of the Republic, Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo ”, he declared.
As for the Deputy Director General of SICOMINES SA, Elie Tshingulie, he affirmed that since its creation, the company has always adhered to the project of sustainable community development, while striving to create harmonious communities and improve living conditions. inhabitants of the surrounding local communities.
USD 8.07 million invested at the end of July for social projects
At the end of July of the current year, USD 8.07 million has been invested in the development of social projects through several materialized achievements, including the laying of overhead electric cables in the town of Kolwezi; the asphalting of the Kapata-Musonoie-Kanina road; restoration of the water supply system; the installation of a 500 (five hundred) kV substation at Kapata; the contributions and support provided to establishments in the educational sector such as the MUTOSHI Technical Institute, the University of Kolwezi and the Higher Institute of Applied Techniques of Kolwezi (Ista / Kolwezi) as well as financial assistance of 500,000 (five hundred thousand) USD to Lualaba province for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
SICOMINES S A, added the Deputy Director General, rigorously observes the laws and regulations established in the DRC, while also assuming its societal responsibilities. The company insists on sharing the fruits of its development with the Congolese people as well as neighboring communities, while striving to create beautiful communities and together establish « A beautiful DRC ».
As a reminder, a local development committee headed by the neighborhood chief Biwaya and representative of Chief Mutaku has been set up to support these specifications. The local communities affected by the activities of this mining company include the villages of Biwaya, Mapendo, Mutaka, and Yenge, all located in the territory of Mutshatsha, in the province of Lualaba.ACP/