Dikulushi Mine
Encyclopedia
The Dikulushi mine is a copper mine and silver mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. It is located some 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) west of Lake Mweru
and 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Kilwa
in the Moero Sector
of Pweto Territory
, Katanga Province
.
The mine came into production in October 2002 and was then owned by the leading DRC copper company Anvil Mining
within some 10% Community Trust involvement. The mine has a total of 481,000 tonnes of proven mineral reserves and over 650,000 estimated.
While the mine was operational, heavy trucks carrying concentrate crossed Lake Mweru
on a large motorised pontoon ferry from Kilwa to Nchelenge
, a distance of 44 kilometres (27.3 mi), from where they drove 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi) to a copper smelter in Tsumeb
, Namibia
.
In October 2004 there was a small-scale uprising in Kilwa which was brutally suppressed by FARDC soldiers of the 62nd Brigade.
Anvil Mining Congo was accused of providing logistical support to the troops.
The company published a statement by the Traditional Chiefs of Moero Sector that firmly denied any involvement by Anvil in the massacre and that praised the company for the benefits it had brought to the region.
As of December 4, 2008, Anvil had placed Dikulushi Mine on "Care and Maintenance" due to the low prices of copper.
In March 2010, Anvil sold the mine to Mawson West Ltd.
The transfer would let Anvil focus on its larger copper projects, including the Kinsevere
Stage II project expected to start commissioning early in 2011 and to produce 60,000 tonnes annually.
Mawson West reopened the Dikulushi mine in July 2010.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. It is located some 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) west of Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru is a freshwater lake on the longest arm of Africa's second-longest river, the Congo. Located on the border between Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo, it makes up 110 km of the total length of the Congo, lying between its Luapula River and Luvua River segments.Mweru...
and 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Kilwa
Kilwa, Katanga
Kilwa is a small town, headquarters of Moero Sector, Pweto Territory, Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .Kilwa lies on the west shore of Lake Mweru opposite Kilwa Island, which is part of Zambia.Kilwa is from Lubumbashi...
in the Moero Sector
Moero Sector
Moero Sector is an administrative division of Pweto Territory in Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .The headquarters are in the town of Kilwa.Moero Sector lies to the west of Lake Mweru....
of Pweto Territory
Pweto Territory
Pweto Territory is a territory in Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .The headquarters are in the town of Pweto.-Geography:Pweto is part of the district of Haut-Katanga....
, Katanga Province
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
.
The mine came into production in October 2002 and was then owned by the leading DRC copper company Anvil Mining
Anvil Mining
Anvil Mining is a copper producer that has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2002.The company headquarters are based in Montreal, Canada.Anvil is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Stock Exchange....
within some 10% Community Trust involvement. The mine has a total of 481,000 tonnes of proven mineral reserves and over 650,000 estimated.
While the mine was operational, heavy trucks carrying concentrate crossed Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru
Lake Mweru is a freshwater lake on the longest arm of Africa's second-longest river, the Congo. Located on the border between Zambia and Democratic Republic of the Congo, it makes up 110 km of the total length of the Congo, lying between its Luapula River and Luvua River segments.Mweru...
on a large motorised pontoon ferry from Kilwa to Nchelenge
Nchelenge
Nchelenge is a town in the Luapula Province of northern Zambia, lying on the south eastern shore of Lake Mweru. It is contiguous with Kashikishi, and they are sometimes referred to as Nchelenge-Kashikishi...
, a distance of 44 kilometres (27.3 mi), from where they drove 2500 kilometres (1,553.4 mi) to a copper smelter in Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
In October 2004 there was a small-scale uprising in Kilwa which was brutally suppressed by FARDC soldiers of the 62nd Brigade.
Anvil Mining Congo was accused of providing logistical support to the troops.
The company published a statement by the Traditional Chiefs of Moero Sector that firmly denied any involvement by Anvil in the massacre and that praised the company for the benefits it had brought to the region.
As of December 4, 2008, Anvil had placed Dikulushi Mine on "Care and Maintenance" due to the low prices of copper.
In March 2010, Anvil sold the mine to Mawson West Ltd.
The transfer would let Anvil focus on its larger copper projects, including the Kinsevere
Kinsevere
Kinsevere is an open pit mine and Heavy Media Separation plant with an electric arc furnace operated by Anvil Mining.It is located north of Lubumbashi, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.Kinsevere is in the Kipushi Territory in Katanga province....
Stage II project expected to start commissioning early in 2011 and to produce 60,000 tonnes annually.
Mawson West reopened the Dikulushi mine in July 2010.