On December 18, 2013, China National Gold Group Co., Ltd (CNGGC), the only central state-owned enterprise in China’s gold industry, signed an equity acquisition agreement for Soremi Company with Gerald Group in Beijing. This acquisition laid a solid foundation for local economic growth and marked a significant milestone in CNGGC’s international business into African markets.
In March 2014, CNGGC took over Soremi Company, transforming it into the first modern mine in the Republic of Congo that integrates mining, selection, and smelting processes.
Adhering to the principle of sharing benefits
Soremi Company consistently adheres to the principles of co-building and sharing benefits. Since 2015, the company has organized more than 20 free medical clinics, providing essential healthcare services to local employees and their families.
The company has also laid water supply pipelines to deliver clean water to two villages near the mining area. It invested in the construction of the “Boko-Songho Water Diversion Project”, addressing the BK community’s challenges with aging water infrastructure. Moreover, Soremi repaired nearly 30 kilometers of the long-neglected public road from Loutete to Mfouati, significantly improving transportation for local residents and goods. These efforts have been widely praised by both the local government and the community.
Cultivating professional talent for local development
Soremi Company currently employs over 600 local workers, and Chinese employees provide mentorship training to Congolese workers in areas such as construction, maintenance, production operations, and management.
Focusing on local education, Soremi has, since 2017, purchased school supplies, donated furniture, renovated school facilities, and, between 2016 and 2019, partnered with China’s Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) to establish three Confucius Classrooms in the mining area. In July 2023, the company awarded the Soremi Scholarship to outstanding students at the Confucius Institute at Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville. Additionally, in September 2023, Soremi funded the renovation of an elementary school, further contributing to China-Congo cultural exchange.
Committed to environmental protection
Soremi has dedicated to building an environmentally friendly mine, adhering to World Bank environmental protection standards as outlined in its basic design and environmental assessment report.
The company actively explores innovative environmental management models. It has established several environmental monitoring stations in collaboration with government agencies and community representatives. These stations conduct regular monitoring activities, including water quality, dust, and noise monitoring, as well as managing solid waste disposal, sanitation, disinfection, and wastewater treatment. All domestic sewage is treated in accordance with international standards.
A milestone in Congo’s industrial development
To date, Soremi remains the first modern mine in the Republic of Congo to integrate mining, selection, and smelting processes and is currently the only operational mine in the country. The company has made substantial contributions to the Congolese economy, representing a milestone in the nation’s industrial development.
Despite challenges posed by the complex economic environment in Congo, Soremi completed the first phase of its copper smelting project within 12 months, reducing investment costs by 11 percent. The project reached full production within three months of its launch. The second phase, involving zinc smelting, was completed in November 2020, with the first zinc plate in Congolese history produced on December 1, 2020. This achievement filled a significant gap in the country’s zinc production capacity, marking another historic milestone in the country’s mining industry.
Soremi has not only boosted local employment but has also driven local economic development. It has provided the Congolese metallurgical industry with valuable standards in mining, selection, smelting, safety, and environmental protection, contributing to China’s wisdom, strength, and solutions to the country’s development.
