The Collective Bargaining Agreement at the Center of Expectations

Kamoa Copper workers want the negotiations initiated with management to lead to the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement. According to them, this document must provide a clear framework for professional relations, strengthen social protections and respond to the realities of work in the mining industry.

The authors of the memorandum insist on their desire to prioritize dialogue with the employer in order to reach a sustainable compromise. They believe that an appropriate collective bargaining agreement would help improve working conditions while promoting a stable social climate.

Social Demands Considered Priorities

Among the main demands are the granting of a flat-rate bonus of 1,000 US dollars to each employee, the automatic payment of acting allowances for workers temporarily performing higher-level duties, as well as an increase in the housing allowance to 30% of net salary.

The memorandum also calls for better coverage of workers’ children’s school fees, considered an important component of the company’s social policy. Staff representatives believe that these measures would help improve the well-being of employees and their families.

A Challenge for the Stability of Operations

The workers recall that their initiative comes in a context marked by the recent death of a colleague at the Kakula site, an event which, according to them, highlights the need to strengthen employee protection mechanisms.

In a sector that is strategic to the Congolese economy, the quality of social dialogue remains a determining factor in ensuring business continuity. For Kamoa Copper, concluding negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement could help strengthen trust between management and workers, while preserving the competitiveness of one of the world’s largest copper production complexes.

Héritier Maila

Source: Magazine Le Temps

The post Kamoa Copper: Collective Bargaining Negotiations at the Heart of Workers’ Demands appeared first on MINING & BUSINESS.

In a global context marked by the risk of copper shortages linked to the energy transition, Ivanhoe Mines is accelerating its ambitions in the Democratic Republic of Congo through its Western Forelands exploration project.

The Canadian company now plans to invest USD 86 million in 2026 in this project located in the DRC. This budget, disclosed in its quarterly report published on May 6, represents a significant increase compared with the USD 50 million announced last February.

A strengthened exploration campaign

Ivanhoe Mines says this year’s exploration program will be the largest ever carried out on the project. It includes more than 80,000 meters of diamond core drilling as well as 16,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling.

The objective is to test new geological targets and increase confidence in the potential of the Makoko district, considered one of the most promising areas of Western Forelands. A resource update is expected in the third quarter.

Makoko among the major copper deposits

The Makoko district currently contains approximately 773,000 tonnes of copper in indicated resources and more than 8.38 million tonnes in inferred resources.

For Ivanhoe Mines, this resource base already allows Makoko to be ranked among the world’s most significant copper discoveries. The group therefore wants to accelerate planning for a future mine on the site.

A pre-feasibility study is underway and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

Ivanhoe strengthens its presence in the DRC

“We are making great strides in the process of discovering major deposits,” said Robert Friedland, referring to a deposit whose significance continues to grow.

The development of a mine at Western Forelands would enable the group to further consolidate its presence in the DRC, where it already operates Kamoa-Kakula, the country’s largest copper mine.

Copper becomes strategic

Ivanhoe’s ambitions come in a context of strong global demand for copper, driven in particular by electric vehicles and energy infrastructure.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that around 80 new copper mines will need to be developed worldwide by 2030 to meet global needs.

Despite these prospects, several more years will still be needed before the economic viability of a future mine at Western Forelands can be fully confirmed.

Héritier Maila / Agence ECOFIN

The post DRC: Ivanhoe Mines raises its copper investment to USD 86 million appeared first on MINING & BUSINESS.