METI Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii Visits the Republic of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1. The Republic of South Africa

(1) Participating in Mining Indaba 2024

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii participated in Mining Indaba 2024, held in Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa, which is the world's largest exhibition and conference in the mining sector which brings together government stakeholders, investors, and representatives of resource-related companies from around the world, as well as ministerial-level officials from African countries. During the conference, he worked to further strengthen ties between Japan and African countries in the mining sector. An overview is provided below.

(2) Outline of the keynote speech at the JOGMEC seminar

During his keynote speech, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii explained Japan’s policy to secure critical minerals supply chains, particularly its efforts in Africa, such as promoting Japanese companies to invest in promising projects in Africa, supporting measures for human resource development in the mining sector in African countries, and emphasized Japan’s focus on win-win relationships with African countries.

(3) Meetings with government stakeholders

Taking the opportunity of Mining Indaba 2024, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii exchanged views on cooperation in the critical minerals sector and such with seven government officials, including ministerial-level officials.

[i] Meeting with Hon. Mr. Paul C. Kabuswe, Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, the Republic of Zambia

In order to promote bilateral cooperation in the critical minerals sector, the two sides reaffirmed an early visit by Minister Kabuswe to Japan, and to hold a mining investment seminar to introduce the investment environment and opportunities available in Zambia to Japanese companies. Minister Kabuswe reiterated his strong interest in cooperation in exploration in all areas across Zambia, and the two sides agreed that Japan and Zambia will strengthen efforts for cooperation in exploration under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concluded between Zambia and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

[ii] Meeting with Hon. Antoinette N'Samba Kalambayi, Minister of Mines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Together with representatives of five Japanese companies attending the DRC Public-Private Mission, both sides confirmed that conducting this mission is part of the efforts agreed under the aforementioned Joint Statement signed by then-METI Minister Nishimura and Minister N'Samba in December 2022. In addition, the two sides agreed that Japan and the DRC will hold discussions on future efforts following the conduction of the mission. Furthermore, the two sides welcomed the MOU concluded in November 2023 between JOGMEC and Gecamines, one of the DRC’s state-owned mining companies, and agreed that both countries will support the formulation of specific projects going forward.

[iii] Meeting with Hon. Dr. Steven L. Kiruswa, Deputy Minister of Minerals, the United Republic of Tanzania

The two sides exchanged views to enhance Japan-Tanzania cooperation in the critical minerals sector. In particular, Tanzania stressed its strong needs for exploration, and the two sides agreed to advance discussions to strengthen exploration cooperation with JOGMEC in the future.

[iv] Meeting with H.E. Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Republic of South Africa

Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii expressed his appreciation for South Africa’s cooperation to date in mining projects in which Japanese companies have participated, and discussed challenges that need to be solved in advancing projects, including the issue of power supply. In addition, the two sides agreed that Japan and South Africa will continue to enhance cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

[v] Meeting with H.E. Mr. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, the Republic of South Africa

The two sides exchanged views on such issues as bilateral economic cooperation. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii shared his high expectations for the convening of the Japan-South Africa joint trade committee, while Minister Patel expressed his interest in Japan-South Africa cooperation in decarbonization in the automobile sector. The two sides confirmed that the two countries will continue to collaborate to enrich bilateral economic ties.

[vi] Meeting with Mr. Jose W. Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, the United States

The two sides held discussions on enhanced cooperation among like-minded countries under the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the potential of bilateral cooperation in Africa. In particular, Under Secretary Fernandez welcomed the MOU concluded between JOGMEC and Gecamines and offered his support to formulate specific projects in the DRC. They agreed that the three parties, Japan, the U.S. and the EU will further enrich collaboration.

[vii] Meeting with Mr. Benjamin Gaezo, Interministerial Representative of Strategic Mineral and Metal Resource Supplies, France

The two sides confirmed bilateral cooperation in the critical minerals sector, including collaboration between governmental agencies, such as JOGMEC and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

2. The DRC

(1) Background to the conduction of the DRC Public-Private Mission

In December 2022, then-METI Minister Nishimura and Minister N’Samba concluded a Joint Statement of Intent on Cooperation in the Mining Sector and agreed on a roadmap* as part of the Joint Statement. In accordance with the roadmap, a DRC Public-Private Mission led by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii was formed, consisting of 29 members in total from seven trading companies and non-ferrous metal manufacturing companies, as well as government officials. The mission visited DRC company, Société pour le traitement du terril de Lubumbashi (STL) and the Kamoa-Kakula Mine operated by Canadian company, Ivanhoe Mines.

(2) Visiting STL

STL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gecamines which produces zinc, copper, and other metals from smelting residue that contain many useful metal components. Last year the company enhanced its hydro-metallurgical refining facilities and is now making adjustments to produce germanium concentrate (about 1% grade).

The members of the mission visited STL’s refining facilities and exchanged views with the executives of the company. The company stated that it welcomes investments from Japan, and explained the current situation of the facilities, investment opportunities, and other information.

• Scene from the meeting
• Visiting STL’s refining facilities
  (in front of the smelting residue seen in the back right)

(3) Visiting the Kamoa-Kakula Mine

The Kamoa-Kakula Mine is one of the highest-grade copper mines in the world, operated by Canadian company, Ivanhoe Mines. Ivanhoe Mines is also actively engaged in exploration activities in the surrounding area, and it expects that a large-scale copper deposit may lie in the Western Foreland area, about 20 km from the Kamoa-Kakula Mine.

The members of the mission were welcomed by Mr. Robert Friedland, Founder of Ivanhoe Mines, and received a briefing on the overview of the mine and its future plans from Mr. Friedland and the executives of the company. They also visited the mine shafts to observe the operational situation and Western Foreland area to observe the exploration (boring) activities. Moreover, they visited educational and training facilities for employees, fish ponds, a sewing factory, a brick factory, and other facilities that the company promotes as part of its efforts to support the local communities. Through this visit, the mission observed the state-of-the-art mining operations and warm measures that have been taken for the local communities, despite the difficult circumstances. This visit helped Japanese companies to promote an understanding of the current situation of mining operations in the DRC and to consider their entry into the region.

• Scene from meeting with the executives of Ivanhoe Mines
• Scene from observing boring cores
• Scene from a sewing factory that employs local residents

Division in Charge

• Mineral and Natural Resources Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
• Africa Office, Trade Policy Bureau