By Chris Muhizi for MCN
The state-owned copper and cobalt company Gecamines revealed on Thursday that it plans to manufacture 30 metric tons of germanium annually at a plant that is almost finished in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to Gecamines Chairman Guy Robert Lukama, the plant at Big Bill Slag in Lubumbashi will begin processing waste from the tailings site in September, and germanium may start to be sold in October.
Concern was raised in the semiconductor and defense industries, which utilize the metals in products ranging from computer chips to fiber-optic cables, when China on Monday announced export restrictions on some gallium and germanium products, claiming national security considerations.
According to an interview with Lukama, “China’s move will create some scarcity in the market, meaning that our germanium, which is not yet committed, could have more value.”
Although there are currently no clients, interest has existed from the project’s inception, and we are confident that it will increase as time goes on.
Due to China’s dominance in metal manufacturing, the Chinese restrictions that went into effect on August 1 might cause disruptions in worldwide supply chains.
According to Lukama, Gecamines anticipates greater demand for its metals and may begin signing sales agreements in 2024.
Given that recovering metal from tailings is more affordable, the Big Hill slag processing facility will also efficiently process copper, cobalt, and silver.
Congo is Africa’s top copper producer and the world’s top supplier of cobalt.
Additionally, Gecamines intends to investigate the feasibility of processing gallium. If the global demand picks up, the company may potentially consider making additional expenditures to recover germanium from abandoned mine sites.
According to Lukama, “germanium was not crucial in the past, so they just put them as a tailings.”
“If there is a significant demand, we can spend more money restoring those mines so they can be turned into profitable projects.”
Source: Reuters.