Congo/Brazzaville: Start-up of Magnesium

UNCLAS KINSHASA 002021 SIPDIS DEPT for AF/C (MAshraf) PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: EMIN EINV ECON CF SUBJECT: Congo/Brazzaville: Start-up of Magnesium Mining Operations in the ROC ¶1. In its search for alternatives to dependency on the oil industry and efforts to diversify the economy, the government of the Republic of Congo has initiated development of the solid mining sector. On October 14, 2005, at the Mengo field near Pointe Noire, the Minister of Mines and Geology presided at an official ceremony to celebrate the inaugural drilling and exploitation of magnesium by Magaloy Congo S.A., a Canadian-affiliated mineral mining company. ¶2. Feasibility studies for this project initially started ten years ago. According to Magaloy technical experts, the Menga field has significant magnesium reserves. The company is drilling five, 850 meter deep bore holes that will be fitted with plastic tubes to allow magnesium extraction. In order to mitigate negative environmental impacts, Magaloy stated that state-of-the-art drilling technologies will be employed. The benefits of the project include revenues to the government and the creation of an estimated 4,000 jobs. ¶3. Updates on this activitiy and other commercial/economic development will be provided by ECON/Consular Officer Chelsea Bakken and FSN Econ Assistant Benjamin Ekoloko. ¶4. Please be advised that the Embassy Brazzaville TDY Office currently has no access to IVG, OpenNet or GAL e-mail. Embassy staff may be contacted via the following personal e- mail accounts or cell phone numbers: CDA Mark Biedlingmaier, carpaemarkum@hotmail.com celtel: (242) 526-3562 ECON/CONS Chelsea Bakken, bzvbakkencmh@yahoo.com celtel: (242) 528-7963 (R&R, 12/13 - 1/15) TDY MGT Susan Selbin, sselbin@hotmail.com celtel: (242) 525-7387 (departs post 12/23) ¶5. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Biedlingmaier. MEECE