Democratic Republic of Congo Develops National Databank for Mineral Resources
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in the process of establishing a national databank to centralize and enhance knowledge of its mineral resources. This initiative aims to bolster the country's control over geological data. According to the Natural Resource Governance Institute, this move could support more informed licensing decisions, strengthen the state's negotiating position in the mining sector, and reduce uncertainty for potential investors. The development of this databank is seen as a strategic step to improve transparency and governance within the DRC's rich mining industry. Moise Liboto Makuta, NRGI's DRC Country Manager, highlighted both the potential benefits and the governance risks associated with this approach, emphasizing the need to ensure transparency, a level playing field, and safeguards against valuable data benefiting only a select few.
