(Ecofin Agency) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) produced 33,558 tonnes of cassiterite or tin ore in 20233. Alphamin is the country's main industrial tin producer, but other companies are also looking for new viable deposits.

Rome Resources has started drilling at its Kalayi prospect in the DRC. Kalayi is part of the company’s Bisie project in North Kivu. Rome Resources announced the drilling on August 5, 2024.

The recently started drilling follows a similar effort at the Mont Agoma prospect and aims to estimate mineral resources by the end of the year. 

Drilling works at Kalayi involves involve 12 diamond drill holes, testing mineralization over 700 meters and reaching depths of more than 100 meters. Previous drilling has found tin grades ranging from 1.05% to 7.21%.

The Kalayi prospect has already yielded grades of up to 7.2% tin in previous shallow drilling and has striking similarities with Alphamin's nearby Mpama South Mine, where tin grades increase with depth. We look forward to regularly updating the market as this work progresses," said Paul Barrett, CEO of Rome Resources.

Most tin production in the DRC comes from artisanal mining, with Alphamin being the main industrial source. Rome Resources' Bisie project, located north of the Alphamin mine, could help the DRC expand its footprint in the global market which is largely dominated by Asian countries.