Mining minerals or mining the state? The practical norms governing mineral extraction
Examines the Congolese administration governing the copper and cobalt extractive sector in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces
Abstract
This working paper examines the fragmented landscape of the Congolese administration governing the copper and cobalt extractive sector in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces between April and December 2017.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), designated state entities are expected to play a formal stewardship role in governing this sector. However, in the study areas, the specific case of large-scale extraction of copper and cobalt shows that this governance fabric is largely fragmented.
Mapping the main actors and studying their overlapping roles and interactions with extractive companies, this working paper builds upon the literature on practical norms. It argues that, rather than being a coherent entity, the state governance of mining is broken up into various—if not parallel—administrative lines within the state itself, enabling many state actors to develop informal governance practices. Unless these practices are unveiled and addressed, transparency in governing the extractive sector and collecting mining rents from it will continue to be negatively stymied. The key finding of our analysis is that mining governance is largely fragmented and feeds, in many instances, practical norms.
This research was funded under the Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium (SLRC) programme.
Citation
Iguma Wakenge, I. (2018) Mining minerals or mining the state? The practical norms governing mineral extraction. Working paper. London: Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium
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