Trafigura plans to restart Mawson West mine in Congo

Trafigura intends to restart its copper mine in Democratic Republic of Congo, the prime minister’s office said following a meeting with the commodity trader on Thursday.

Trafigura’s head of mining Emmanuel Henry told Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba the mine had faced operational difficulties because of unstable copper prices, but aims to reopen after a temporary closure, the office’s statement said.

Trafigura’s Mawson West mine, north of Lake Mweru in Haut-Katanga province, has a production capacity of 26 000 metric tonnes of copper a year and employs about 800 people, according to a company brochure.

Trafigura did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(By Helen Reid; Editing by Grant McCool)