Next Thursday at midnight, South Africa's mines will stop production for 21 days, the duration of the lockdown imposed on the entire country by Cyril Ramaphosa's government. It is a historic decision, unprecedented, in this major African mining country. But it was deemed essential to slow the spread of coronavirus, given the crowding of employees in mines, many of which are underground in South Africa.

Mines halted except for coal

The deposits will be placed in maintenance to prevent, for example, them from being flooded. Only coal mines will continue to produce to supply what remains the country's primary source of electricity.

Wages of South African miners

The mining sector accounts for 25% of South African GDP, notes Claude Katemba, director of Southern Africa Resource Watch, reached by RFI. And it employs half a million people, who find themselves out of work. The question will now arise of financing their wages, which must be maintained. Mining companies may dig deep to help the state.

In DRC, production is not interrupted, for now

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it remains unclear whether the state of emergency decreed by Félix Tshisekedi will have such drastic consequences. In DRC, the mining sector is even more strategic: it contributes 80% to state revenues. The only certainty is that connections between Kinshasa, the capital, and the provinces are cut off. Two mining provinces, Haut Katanga and Lualaba, had already decided Monday to close their borders for 48 hours after two suspected cases of coronavirus.

Hygiene measures

But with no consequences on copper and cobalt production, according to Glencore's Congolese subsidiary, reached by RFI. Kamoto Copper Company notes only "a temporary halt to the export of cobalt hydroxide and copper cathode". It says it has implemented "increased hygiene measures: disinfected work areas, hand-washing facilities, social distancing, temperature checks on site, restrictions on travel from areas outside Kolwezi…"

It remains to be seen whether prolonged border restrictions will allow companies to continue producing and thus to employ personnel in these mining regions of Congo.